Followed by his years-long venture with Marvel Studios, Robert Downey Jr. joined the renowned director Christopher Nolan in his highly anticipated movie Oppenheimer. Starring alongside an ensemble cast, including Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, and many others, he portrays the character of the American businessman Lewis Strauss in the movie. Downey Jr was in the midst of taking a break from acting when he came around the project.
While the Iron Man star was on a break, he did not think twice before joining the project after he learned that Christopher Nolan was directing the movie. And the movie also gave him the opportunity to work alongside a renowned and talented cast. However, the Marvel star was a bit surprised with his co-star Cillian Murphy while working on the movie.
Robert Downey Jr’s Experience Working With Cillian Murphy
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer tells the tale of the American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is credited as the father of the atomic bomb. Cillian Murphy portrays the lead role in the movie alongside an ensemble cast.
The movie is just weeks away from its release, and in the midst of this, Robert Downey Jr. has shared his experience working with the Peaky Blinders star in the upcoming movie. During an interview with Extra TV, he shared why he felt a bit uncomfortable around his co-star Cillian Murphy.
The Dolittle star shared that he was surprised by how Murphy transitioned as soon as the camera rolled. “Seeing how Cillian had embodied this character, to the point where you go like, ‘I’m practically with the guy.’ You can’t help but feel a little bit iced out by it,” he said.
He shared that everything went along with Murphy well until he got into his character. And as soon as the camera rolled, it felt like “he was looking through [him] like [he] didn’t exist. And [he] was like, ‘That sucks.’” While Downey Jr. felt a bit uncomfortable but he also shared that Nolan chose the perfect actor to cast as J. Robert Oppenheimer.
Cillian Murphy Desperately Wanted to Star in Oppenheimer
While Robert Downey Jr. worked with the award-winning director Christopher Nolan for the first time in Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy has starred in multiple Nolan films. However, he has not played a lead in his movies until the upcoming biographical thriller.
During an interview with Associated Press, he shared that he has been open to working with the Inception director without any concerns about how long or short his role is. However, he still wanted to play a lead character in a Nolan movie. And he got that opportunity in the upcoming film Oppenheimer.
The Inception actor shared that the Dunkirk director offered him the lead role, saying that he has written a script about J. Robert Oppenheimer and wants Murphy to take the lead role in the movie. “It was a great day,” the Red Lights actor recalled.
Oppenheimer is set to release on 21 July 2023.
Source: Extra TV
