After blockbuster movies like Memento, The Dark Knight Trilogy, Interstellar, and Inception, Christopher Nolan has turned his sights to a famous biography for his next project.
The five-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker has delivered back-to-back hits, and his next subject is the “Father of the atomic bomb.” J. Robert Oppenheimer, who inspired the American Prometheus biography, has been a prolific scientist all his life but felt blood on his hands after his invention led to the Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombings.
Needless to say, Oppenheimer is a man who has greatly profited from the scientific community for his contributions, and Nolan is determined to bring out the less-seen aspects of the man’s life.
‘Oppenheimer’ is set to have a star-studded cast with Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Robert Downey Jr, and Matt Damn, to name a few.
So, how will Nolan portray Oppenheimer? Undoubtedly, the biography will not be adapted from top to bottom, and I wonder what breathtaking twists Nolan will bring to the tale.
Is ‘Oppenheimer’ Movie Based on a Real Story? Who Will It Portray?
Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie, ‘Oppenheimer’ is based on J. Robert Oppenheimer, the ‘father of the atomic bomb.’ The movie is inspired by the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer.
The latest trailer of Oppenheimer is out. Check it out right here to know what the movie brings in tow:
As the trailer begins, the scientists and the military personnel can be seen justifying the atomic bomb. “This is the most important thing to ever happen in the history of the world” A whole secret town is built just to keep the experiments of the atomic bomb contained.
The danger the bomb poses is misjudged until Matt Damon asks: “So, there’s a chance that when we push that button, we destroy the world?” and Murphy, aka Oppenheimer, answers, “Chances are near zero.”
Of course, the Trinity test is a success, but Oppenheimer fails to control the usage of his invention. Soon, he realizes the destruction he has brought upon the world and is stabbed by conscience.
The Real Oppenheimer
J. Robert Oppenheimer was instrumental in the success of the atomic bomb. He was well-versed in many languages and even learned Sanskrit and read the Bhagavad Gita. As his invention succeeded, he was reminded of words from the Gita, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”
After the Hiroshima-Nagasaki tragedy, he was upset regarding the second bombing at Nagasaki since it made no sense from a military perspective. He worked for more than two decades for nuclear peace and even lobbied to avert nuclear proliferation. However, there are no instances when he regretted his contribution.
Oppenheimer expressed his revulsion and his wish to ban nuclear weapons. In 1945, a meeting with President Truman went horribly wrong as he said he felt “blood on my hands.” His position as a political influencer was stripped in 1954. The father of the atomic bomb soon symbolized scientists who believed they could escape the moral dilemma in the nuclear age.
Returning to the movie, Cillian Murphy fits into the character like a glove as he brilliantly portrays Oppenheimer’s attitude. As the Nobel Prize winner Isodor Rabi described, “I’ll never forget his (Oppenheimer’s) walk; I’ll never forget the way he stepped out of the car … his walk was like High Noon … this kind of strut. He had done it.”
Who better to play the scientist than Peaky Blinders’ Thomas Shelby?
‘Oppenheimer’ is scheduled to premiere on July 21, 2023. It will be released by Universal Pictures. As a project helmed by Christopher Nolan, it is bound to bring in a hefty audience.
So buckle up for this bombshell of a film, and Nolan prepares to blow our minds this summer. Tell us all about what you love about Nolan’s filmography and what you expect from the 2023 release.