The Untold Casting Secret: The Surprising Actor Who Nearly Played Oppenheimer in a TV Show 10 Years Ago!

Summary

The creators of Manhattan aimed for Oppenheimer to possess both charisma and an otherworldly quality.

Murphy's collaboration and understanding with director Christopher Nolan resulted in the creation of a captivating character in the film Oppenheimer. Prior to this, Murphy was considered for the role of J. Robert Oppenheimer in the TV series Manhattan, which aired from 2014 to 2015. However, the character played by Daniel London had a less prominent role in the series compared to the film.

Vanity Fair recently interviewed writer Lyla Byock and showrunner Sam Shaw about the casting process for Oppenheimer. Shaw revealed that Murphy had been a potential choice for the cast long before he officially joined because they wanted the character to possess charisma while also having a certain "alien" or unique quality. Other actors considered for the role included Ebon Moss-Bachrach from The Bear, Beck, and even the legendary David Bowie. Byock elaborates on this, mentioning that they also explored the possibility of casting rock stars, but unfortunately, David Bowie was unavailable.

Sam Shaw: We desired Oppenheimer to exude an undeniable charm and stage presence, while also conveying that he wielded a distinct musical instrument. He had to emanate an alien, or otherworldly, essence in certain aspects. Cillian Murphy undoubtedly embodied these qualities, without a doubt.

Why Now Was the Right Time for Cillian Murphy to Play Oppenheimer

It's not uncommon for an actor to portray the same character in separate television series and films. Case in point, Damon Herriman recently embodied Charles Manson in both Mindhunter and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. However, if Murphy had previously portrayed Oppenheimer in Manhattan, it's probable that another actor would have been chosen for the role in the new blockbuster. Nolan's reputation as an innovative director likely would have deterred him from replicating a project already in existence.

It is probably a good thing that Murphy did not get the role of Oppenheimer in 2014. One reason is that Oppenheimer is a more successful project compared to Manhattan. It has achieved the highest opening weekend box office record for any non-Batman Nolan movie. On the other hand, Manhattan was cancelled by WGN America, without completing the intended six seasons.

Additionally, Murphy benefitted from collaborating with the creative minds behind Oppenheimer. He has previously worked with director Nolan on films such as Inception, Batman Begins, and Dunkirk. Their familiarity with each other's styles allowed them to collaborate effectively and create a character that could captivate audiences throughout the entire three-hour runtime of the movie.

Source: Vanity Fair