Christopher Nolan's Universal Pictures won the rights to Oppenheimer after a fierce bidding war.
Based on the book, American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin, Nolan's eleventh film will follow the life and career of the theoretical physicist dubbed "the father of the atomic bomb" for his role in the Manhattan project during World War II. The film first made waves by tapping Nolan's frequent collaborator, Cillian Murphy, in the titular role of Robert Oppenheimer and soon followed that up by casting A Quiet Place's Emily Blunt as the scientist's wife, Katherine. Oppenheimer then added two more megastars in Matt Damon and Robert Downey Jr. Now, the film is rounding out its cast with more A-list talent.
According to THR, Oppenheimer has added the trio of Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, and Benny Safdie to its already impressive cast. Pugh will portray the role of Jean Tatlock, a communist who had an affair with Oppenheimer, which causes major security concerns for the United States government. Malek and Safdie will both play scientists also involved in the Manhattan Project, the latter taking on the role of Edward Teller, an Hungarian physicist who later became known as "the father of the hydrogen bomb."
After the two were previously cast in undisclosed roles, this recent report includes some insight on who Damon and Downey Jr. will be playing in Nolan's ambitious project. Damon will star as Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves, the director of the Manhattan Project. Downey will play Lewis Strauss, who appears to be the film's antagonist. The former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission gained infamy for initiating hearings that questioned Oppenheimer's loyalty to the US.
Nolan's films are generally stacked with A-list talent, though Oppenheimer's cast is shaping up to not only rival any project in his filmography, but any feature film in recent memory. Pugh and Malek have both received Oscar nominations in the past few years, with the latter winning for Bohemian Rhapsody. Both are now fresh off villainous turns, Malek in No Time to Die and Pugh in the ongoing Hawkeye series. Safdie's name is perhaps the least recognizable of the trio, though his range of talent is undeniable. He has directed numerous acclaimed films with his brother, Josh, and has recently branched out with acting roles in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Licorice Pizza and the Star Wars series, Obi-Wan Kenobi. With Nolan at the helm and these three stars now added to the cast, Oppenheimer will surely be a can't-miss feature when it premieres on July 21, 2023.
Source: THR
