Cillian Murphy has finally explained why he has worked with Christopher Nolan on multiple projects and why he will keep doing it. The actor has been cast in Nolan’s upcoming film Oppenheimer, which is coming to theaters next year. The film will be based on the book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer written by Kai Bird and late Martin J. Sherwin. Nolan’s frequent collaborator Murphy will play the lead role in the film. The film will also star big Hollywood names like Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and Florence Pugh.
Murphy has worked with Nolan on many successful projects, starting with Nolan’s first Batman film Batman Begins, in which the Irish actor played the role of villain Scarecrow. Since then Murphy has shown up in other Nolan films like Dunkirk and Inception. The news that Murphy will be in Nolan’s Oppenheimer came as no surprise because Nolan has worked with some people constantly such as Murphy and Michale Caine.
During an interview with The Guardian, while promoting the final season of Murphy’s hit drama series Peaky Blinders, in which he plays the lead role of Tommy Shelby. Murphy talked about how he keeps working with Nolan. The Irish actor said that he would “always turn up” for Nolan because he thinks that Nolan is “still making challenging, demanding films within the studio system.” Read the full quote by Murphy below:
“I’ll always turn up for Chris, whatever the size of the part. Chris will call me up and I’m there. Isn’t it wonderful that filmmakers are still making challenging, demanding films within the studio system, shot on film rather than Imax? I think he’s flying the flag. Him, Paul Thomas Anderson and Quentin Tarantino, are fantastic filmmakers making interesting work on a massive scale.”
Through the statement by Murphy, we can all agree the duo has immense respect for each other’s craft and that is one of the many reasons that they keep working together. In a previous interview, Murphy also said that Nolan is “one of the greatest living directors.” Murphy previously said that he was shocked and also thrilled to know that he will be playing the role of Oppenheimer in the upcoming film, given that he has only played supporting roles in Nolan’s previous films.
Murphy’s Peaky Blinders will be available with its sixth and final season later this month.