Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, and Benny Safdie have joined the cast of Christopher Nolan’s next film,Oppenheimer. The historical thriller is based on the life of American theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who was responsible for developing the atomic bomb.Peaky BlindersstarCillian Murphywill play the titular character, with Emily Blunt playing his wife, Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer.Christopher Nolan has penned the screenplay, adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning bookAmerican Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimerby Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
The newest additions toOppenheimer’salready star-studded cast, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, and Benny Safdie, will be playing prominent roles in the film.The Hollywood Reporterbroke the news of this recent casting announcement. Florence Pugh will play Jean Tatlock, a member of the Communist Party of the United States who had an affair with Oppenheimer and was the cause of major security concerns for the government. Benny Safdie will play Hungarian physicist Edward Teller, also known as the father of the hydrogen bomb. He was also a member of the Manhattan Project, the U.S. research initiative that developed the first atomic bomb.Rami Malekhas been cast in a mystery role, playing an unnamed scientist.
Oppenheimeris still in the early stages of production, so there is no word about the plot yet. However, the film is billed as an “epic thriller that thrusts audiences into the pulse-pounding paradox of the enigmatic man who must risk destroying the world to save it.” Nolan, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven are producing the film in collaboration with Universal Studios. This ends Nolan’s decade-long partnership with Warner Bros. TheTenetdirector was unhappy with the studio’s hybrid streaming and theatrical release model and subsequently shoppedOppenheimerto other production houses.
Ultimately, Universal bagged the project and assigned a $100 million budget. Surprisingly,Oppenheimer’sbudget is equal to that of the upcoming DCEU blockbuster,The Batman.So it’s safe to say that we shouldn’t expect a straightforward biopic. We look forward to anotherChristopher Nolanfilm with a mind-boggling plot and breathtaking visuals. Hoyte Van Hoytema and Ludwig Goransson will serve as the director of photography and music director, respectively.
Oppenheimerwill also feature the first collaboration between Christopher Nolan andRobert Downey Jr., and fans have been ecstatic ever since the announcement. TheIron Manstar will play Lewis Strauss, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission. Strauss initiated hearings that questioned Oppenheimer’s loyalty to the United States due to his past associations with the communist party. Matt Damon will play Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves, the director of the Manhattan Project.
Florence Pughis currently one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood. Pugh wowed the audience with her terrific performances in films likeMidsommarandLady Macbeth. She also earned an academy award nomination for playing Amy March inLittle Women. Rami Malek is coming off an Oscar win forBohemian Rhapsodyand recently played the villain in Daniel Craig’s final James Bond outing,No Time to Die. Benny Safdie is best known for co-directingGood TimeandUncut Gemswith his brother Josh. But Safdie has established himself as a good actor too. He was most recently seen in Paul T. Anderson’sLicorice Pizzaand will next appear in the Disney+ seriesObi-Wan Kenobi.
It seems like Nolan has assembled his most high-profile cast yet forOppenheimer, and there’s likely more to come. With such a talented cast, we’ll certainly be getting some mind-blowing performances.Oppenheimerisslated for an exclusive theatrical release on June 13, 2025.
