Unveiling the Mysterious Role: Robert Downey Jr's Character in Oppenheimer

"We understood that the world would never be the same," stated J. Robert Oppenheimer during a 1965 interview regarding his initial test of the nuclear bomb in 1945. Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography by Martin Sherwin and Kai Bird, titled American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated biographical thriller film is scheduled for release on July 21, 2023. Oppenheimer, portrayed by Cillian Murphy, is depicted as the central character in what he regards as one of his most demanding endeavors - the creation of the first atomic bomb, ultimately leading to his own downfall.

Nolan discloses that his motivation to create this film arose when he discovered that the scientists involved were cognizant of the potential destruction they could cause to the world moments before detonating the first nuclear bomb, yet proceeded regardless. "I wanted to experience the atmosphere of that room and witness their actions," he explained during Comic-Con. The film boasts an outstanding ensemble cast, including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Florence Pugh, Rami Malek, Benny Safdie, Kenneth Branagh, and Robert Downey Jr., in his first significant role apart from Tony Stark.

What Is Oppenheimer About?

Nolan’s initial film for Universal Pictures is a documentation of the life and accomplishments of Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist commonly known as ‘the father of the atomic bomb’. However, he later came to regret this title. This controversial scientist was a significant figure in the 20th century, making notable contributions to astrophysics, theoretical astronomy, quantum field theory, and nuclear physics. Initially teaching at Berkeley from 1929 to 1943, Oppenheimer did not involve himself in politics until the rise of Adolf Hitler. In 1939, physicists Albert Einstein, Eugene Wigner, and Leo Szilard alerted the U.S. government to the severe consequences of the Nazis developing a nuclear bomb if action was not taken.

Consequently, President Franklin D. Roosevelt officially authorized the creation of the atomic bomb in 1941, assigning the government with the task of assembling a team of physicists for what became known as the Manhattan Project. Oppenheimer was appointed as the scientific director of this highly classified initiative. Upon selecting Los Alamos, New Mexico as the project's location, the U.S. Army constructed a series of laboratories there. With the collaboration of numerous elite scientists, Oppenheimer was ready to test the atomic bomb only three years after the project's inception. Dubbed 'Trinity', the first successful nuclear explosion occurred in 1945. In a well-known televised interview, Oppenheimer quoted a sacred Hindu text: “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”. This statement aptly captured the paradoxical legacy he left behind.

Just a month later, the United States unleashed two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan, effectively bringing an end to World War II. However, Oppenheimer was deeply troubled and openly expressed his revulsion at the unnecessary use of the bomb for a second time, feeling a heavy sense of guilt. He served as the chairman of the General Advisory Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission from 1947 to 1952, actively opposing the development of a hydrogen bomb and advocating for stringent regulations on nuclear weapons, particularly to slow down the escalating arms race with the Soviet Union. His stance prompted numerous accusations of being a communist, ultimately leading to his removal from service. Despite losing political influence, he relentlessly championed for international control over nuclear weapons.

While the overall plot of Oppenheimer remains undisclosed, the teasers and trailers hint at the film shedding light on the scientist's involvement in the Manhattan Project and his post-war endeavors. The initial trailer features Oppenheimer meticulously overseeing the creation of the atomic bomb and contemplating the immense responsibility it entails: "Theory can only take you so far. I'm not sure if we can be entrusted with such a weapon. Unfortunately, we have no alternative." Similarly, the second trailer portrays him rallying scientists from all corners of the nation, driven by the belief that the Nazis had already embarked on atomic bomb development nearly a year and a half earlier. It also briefly reveals glimpses of his 1945 U.S. security clearance hearings. The trailer culminates with a brief but potent speech: "I am capable of achieving this extraordinary feat. This day will be etched in the memories of humanity. Our work here will secure a peace unlike any in history."

Who Is Robert Downey Jr. Playing in Oppenheimer?

Among the extensive ensemble cast of Oppenheimer, Downey portrays Lewis Strauss, an often overlooked but no less influential individual in the atomic bomb's development. As the film's primary antagonist, Strauss is presented as a financier, naval officer, and industrialist, ultimately becoming the founding commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission. His stance on the hydrogen bomb sets him in direct opposition to Oppenheimer. While Strauss also advocates for responsible atomic energy usage and its potential as an alternative power source, he believes that thermonuclear weapons are necessary to counter the Soviet threat.

Strauss considered Oppenheimer's growing outspokenness on the disastrous consequences of weapon development a threat to national security. He appealed to President Eisenhower, asserting that if Oppenheimer remained connected to the program, he would be unable to fulfill his duties at the AEC. Strauss played a significant part in rescinding Oppenheimer's security clearance and invalidating his credentials. American physicist Robert Wilson, who also participated in the Manhattan Project, likened Strauss's role in the Oppenheimer trial to that of a figure during Galileo's time within the church.

Describing the relationship between Oppenheimer and Strauss, Downey characterized the film as a narrative illustrating how seemingly minor slights between influential individuals can have immense repercussions.