The race for the 2024 Oscars heated up on Monday with the release of a new trailer for Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film “Oppenheimer.”
The gripping teaser gives audiences a glimpse into the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the father of the atomic bomb, played by Cillian Murphy, as well as Matt Damon’s portrayal of Lt. General Leslie Groves Jr.
In one memorable exchange from the trailer, Groves questions the potential consequences of detonating the atomic bomb, to which Oppenheimer reassuringly responds, “The chances are near zero.” The tension between the characters is palpable, setting the stage for a powerful cinematic experience.
While Murphy has appeared in six of Nolan’s films, “Oppenheimer” marks the first time the “Batman Begins” actor takes on a leading role for the acclaimed director. Speaking about his role, Murphy expressed the enormous responsibility he felt portraying the iconic figure, stating, “He was complicated and contradictory and so iconic.” However, Murphy expressed confidence in working with Nolan, crediting the director with having a profound impact on his life, both creatively and professionally.
Nolan has assembled an impressive ensemble cast for “Oppenheimer,” which includes Emily Blunt as biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, Florence Pugh as psychiatrist Jean Tatlock, and Benny Safdie as theoretical physicist Edward Teller. The film also features Michael Angarano, Josh Hartnett, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, Dane DeHaan, Dylan Arnold, David Krumholtz, Alden Ehrenreich, and Matthew Modine.
The screenplay for “Oppenheimer” was written by Nolan, drawing inspiration from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book “American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer” by Kai Bird and the late Martin J. Sherwin. The film is set to hit theaters on July 21, 2024.
