Cillian Murphy to play Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s next

Titled ‘Oppenheimer,’ the film will focus on the life of the physicist whose involvement in the Manhattan Project led him to be dubbed as the ‘father of the atomic bomb’

Cillian Murphy in ‘Peaky Blinders’

Celebrated filmmaker Christopher Nolan has roped in actor Cillian Murphy to play the lead role of American physicist J Robert Oppenheimer in his upcoming historical epic.

Titled “Oppenheimer”, the film will focus on the life of the physicist whose role in running the Los Alamos Laboratory and involvement in the Manhattan Project has led him to be dubbed as the “father of the atomic bomb.”

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Universal Pictures is producing the project, which marks Murphy and Nolan’s fourth collaboration after “Batman Begins”, “Inception” and “Dunkirk”.

“Oppenheimer” is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

The film is written by Nolan and he also produces along with Emma Thomas and Atlas Entertainment’s Charles Roven.

“Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas’ films have shattered the limits of what cinematic storytelling can achieve. We are thrilled to be working alongside them on this exceptional and extraordinary project and are grateful for their shared passion and commitment to the theatrical experience,” said Universal Filmed Entertainment Group Chairman, Donna Langley.

Like Nolan’s previous films “Dunkirk” and “The Dark Knight,” the upcoming movie will also be shot with IMAX cameras.

Production  will begin in early 2022.  Universal Pictures will distribute “Oppenheimer” theatrically worldwide and will release the film in North American theatres on July 21, 2023.