Christopher Nolan’s epic thriller shakes cinema with stellar cast

Universal Pictures has released the latest batch of breathtaking photos from Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film “Oppenheimer,” set to debut across the Philippines on July 19.

Cillian Murphy takes on the lead role of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant scientist responsible for the atomic bomb. Known for his remarkable performances in “28 Days Later,” “A Quiet Place 2,” and Nolan’s previous works, Murphy is poised to deliver another unforgettable experience on the big screen.

Cillian Murphy portrays the lead role of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the brilliant scientist responsible for the atomic bomb.

Robert Downey Jr. tackles the role of Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission

Matt Damon as Leslie Groves Jr., a brigadier general who significantly contributed to the atomic bomb project.

With Emily Blunt who plays Oppenheimer’s wife.

In an interview, Murphy shares his fascination with Oppenheimer’s complexity and the moral dilemmas he faced, stating, “We were always chasing after the complexity of Oppenheimer, as he was no simple man.”

Emily Blunt, renowned for her breakout roles in “The Devil Wears Prada” and “A Quiet Place,” portrays Kitty Oppenheimer, J. Robert’s wife and a formidable biologist. Blunt was drawn to Kitty’s contempt for social norms, saying, “She just had this defiance against the system that felt so modern.”

Matt Damon joins the cast as Leslie Groves Jr., a brigadier general who significantly contributed to the atomic bomb project. Damon, whose performance in “Air” garnered critical acclaim earlier this year, shares his connection to the story, emphasizing the importance of crafting an origin tale for a world shaped by the Manhattan Project.

Robert Downey Jr. tackles the role of Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission. Downey Jr., known for his portrayal of Marvel’s “Iron Man,” was drawn to the project’s significance and ability to address important themes.

“This was Christopher Nolan, doing something that was important to him. The cast was this large gathering of folks who have their choice of projects,” Downey opines.

Florence Pugh portrays Jean Tatlock, a Stanford-educated psychiatrist and Oppenheimer’s intense love interest. Pugh, recognized for her powerful performances in “Black Widow” and “Little Women,” eagerly accepted the opportunity to work with Nolan and co-star Cillian Murphy. “It felt like I was playing sports with some of the best athletes, so it was truly one of the best experiences I’ve had,” she enthuses.

Josh Hartnett, known for his roles in war-themed films, such as “Pearl Harbor” and “Black Hawk Down,” plays physicist Ernest Lawrence. Returning to the big screen after a hiatus, he embraces the chance to explore Lawrence’s contributions to nuclear weaponry and their implications for the modern world.

The star-studded cast also includes Casey Affleck as Boris Pash, Rami Malek as David Hill, Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush, Tom Conti as Albert Einstein, and Kenneth Branagh as Nobel Prize-winning physicist Niels Bohr.

Oppenheimer is described as a cinematic marvel, filmed using a combination of IMAX 65mm and 65mm large-format film photography, including groundbreaking sections in IMAX black and white analog photography.