Cillian Murphy Creates the Atomic Bomb in New Oppenheimer Trailer
Christopher Nolan’s WWII thriller tells the story of the troubled scientist in a race against the Nazis.
Following the release of the less than satisfying Tenet in 2020, Christopher Nolan fans around the world have been waiting to see what the writer and director would be putting out next. For his next project, Nolan has decided to return to World War II after the success of his 2017 film, Dunkirk, though this time, he’s exploring the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the man responsible for creating the atomic bomb.
A new trailer for Oppenheimer, released May 8th, starring Cillian Murphy as the titular J. Robert Oppenheimer, as he contemplates the building of the deadly bomb that would end the war and change the trajectory of human history. “We imagine a future, and our imaginings horrify us,” a voiceover says. “They will fear it, until they understand it. And they won’t understand it, until they’ve used it...I don’t know if we can be trusted with such a weapon, but we have no choice.”
What is Oppenheimer about?
Oppenheimer will tell the story of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the scientist behind the Manhattan Project and the development of the first atomic bomb. Universal is describing the film, which has a $100 million budget per Variety, as an “epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world in order to save it.”
The film is based on Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin’s biography of Oppenheimer, American Prometheus. After the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed more than 200,000 people, Oppenheimer became an advocate for controlling nuclear power.
Who is starring in Oppenheimer?
Aside from Nolan as the writer and director, Oppenheimer boasts a star-studded cast that could maybe even put Don’t Look Up to shame. In addition to Murphy, the film stars Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, and Josh Hartnett.
Murphy, a Nolan-veteran, will lead the cast as Oppenheimer, while Blunt will play his wife, Katherine. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Pugh will take on the role of Communist Party member Jean Tatlock, who had an affair with Oppenheimer during the time period, which reportedly created security concerns for the U.S. government. Safdie is to play Edward Teller, a Hungarian physician and member of the Manhattan Project, while Damon will portray Leslie Groves, who directed the Project.
Downey Jr., meanwhile, will play Lewis Strauss, the chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission at the time, who had a major role in the develop of nuclear weapons, and eventually led hearings regarding Oppenheimer’s loyalty to the U.S. and the government. As of now, Hartnett and Malek’s roles are unknown.
When is the Oppenheimer release date?
Oppenheimer premieres in theaters on July 21, 2023, just days before the 78th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.
Is there a trailer for Oppenheimer?
A new trailer for Oppenheimer dropped on Monday, May 8th. In the clip, Murphy as Oppenheimer races against the clock to develop the atomic bomb before the Nazis. Matt Damon plays an army general encouraging Oppenheimer along the way. As the bomb gets developed, and America gets excited at the prospect of ending World War II and “bringing our boys home,” the implications of introducing nuclear power to the world starts looming over the project.
“You are the man who gave them power to destroy themselves. And the world is not prepared,” Oppenheimer is told at one point.
Watch the trailer, below:
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