Cillian Murphy didn’t just take the audiences’ breath away with his Oppenheimer performance, he also left his co-stars like Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. spellbound on set. So much so that enthralled by Murphy’s talent, Damon couldn’t resist the urge to join forces with him for their next project.
Seizing the opportunity, Damon and his best friend, Ben Affleck, co-founders of their own studio, embarked on a journey to bring forth their latest creation to the screen, Small Things Like These. Now, they stand proud, ready to unleash this gem to audiences worldwide.
This is How Matt Damon Wooed Cillian Murphy for Their Next Movie!
Cillian Murphy undeniably mesmerized everyone on the set of Oppenheimer. From the audience to the cast and crew, all who experienced the magic he conjured on screen fell under his spell. So when Murphy hinted at an intriguing script lined up after Oppenheimer, Matt Damon, being ever so eager to bring the great Cillian Murphy on board, wasted no time in extending a helping hand.
While the Christopher Nolan movie was in full swing, Murphy casually discussed Small Things Like These, with Damon. Damon in fact along with Ben Affleck was cooking up plans for Artist Equity. Spotting the golden opportunity and itching to collaborate with Murphy, Damon dove right in. And everything came together after that. He recently revealed at the Berlin Film Festival (via The Hollywood Reporter),
“I was out in the New Mexican desert with Cillian. I was sitting across from him, watching what he was doing in Oppenheimer,–I had already called Ben and told him what I was witnessing and how incredible it was. A couple of days later, Cillian told me, ‘I have my next movie I really want to do.’ And I said, ‘We are starting a studio. Can we be a part of it?’”
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Small Things Like These delves into the dark corridors of the Magdalene Laundries, asylums administered by Roman Catholic establishments spanning centuries from the 18th to the late 20th.
The story follows Bill Furlong, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, in the year 1985 as he stumbles upon the dark secrets concealed within his own town. Furlong’s journey reveals not only the harrowing truths of his community but also forces him to confront startling revelations about his own identity.
The film is currently flying off the shelves at Berlin’s European Film Market, with tickets selling out rapidly. Its debut has been met with resounding critical acclaim, boasting an extraordinary 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Matt Damon’s Experience Crafting This Gem of a Movie with Cillian Murphy
In an era dominated by big-budget blockbusters, discussing a film that breaks away from the norm is quite rare. However, Damon is immensely proud of the dedication and effort poured into this project. What sets it apart is its refusal to spoon-feed the audience, instead, it invites them on a journey of discovery. He explained,
“This film doesn’t pander. It’s asking the audience to care about cinema. I believe there is enough of an audience in the world that still does. These are the kind of movies that when I started out — I really started getting work in the ’90s — you would see movies like this all the time. It was a part of our culture and our lives. I am really grateful to bring a movie like this into theaters and we will see what happens.”
And the actor is confident that great things are waiting ahead of them, and what truly motivates the studio to take on this project, aside from Murphy’s involvement, is the compelling narrative it presents. The company, now renowned for its groundbreaking techniques in the industry, firmly believes in the importance of granting a diverse array of creatives, especially those working behind the scenes, a share in the film’s equity. He thus said,
“For us on the studio side it was a very easy decision [to make the film] because of the people who were involved in it,–One of the things that attracted us to it was great artists grappling with this trauma.”
While specific release dates for the film remain unconfirmed, fans are eagerly waiting for its theatrical debut.
