Meet the star-studded Oppenheimer cast: As Christopher Nolan’s atomic bomb biopic hits the big screen – a look at the A-list line-up bringing his vision to life
Christopher Nolan’s hugely-anticipated thriller biopic has finally hit the big screen this weekend, with early reviews from critics already hailing it as a ‘masterpiece’.
The film, which stars Cillian Murphy as the titular character, follows scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer as he designs the atomic bomb during the Second World War as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project.
Written and directed by Nolan, the epic also features an all-star accompanying cast including Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh and Robert Downey Jr.
Oppenheimer has had plenty of people talking over the past few weeks, namely thanks to it’s friendly rivalry with fellow blockbuster Barbie, while all eyes were on the cast as they recently walked out of the London premiere in support of the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
And with the movie set to light up cinema screens amid its opening weekend, with predictions of it raking in $50 million at the box office, here’s everything you need to know about the cast, including who they play.
Exciting: Christopher Nolan’s hugely-anticipated thriller biopic has finally hit the big screen this weekend, with early reviews from critics already hailing it as a ‘masterpiece’
Taking a stand: The Oppenheimer cast recently walked out of UK premiere in ‘solidarity’ with the actors’ strike on July 13 (L-R: Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Cillian Murphy, and Florence Pugh)
Cillian Murphy (J. Robert Oppenheimer)
Who is J. Robert Oppenheimer?
Peaky Blinders star Cillian takes on the role of Dr J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the ‘father of the atomic bomb’.
The theoretical physicist designed the atomic bomb during the Second World War as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project.
Where else have you seen Cillian?
The Irish actor, 47, is most notably known for playing gangster Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders since 2013.
He’s also made appearances in huge films including The Dark Knight, Inception, Dunkirk, A Quiet Place Part II and 28 Days Later.
Drama: Peaky Blinders star Cillian takes on the role of Dr J. Robert Oppenheimer, known as the ‘father of the atomic bomb’
Actor: The Irish actor, 47, is most notably known for playing gangster Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders since 2013
Emily Bunt (Katherine ‘Kitty’ Oppenheimer)
Who is Katherine ‘Kitty’ Oppenheimer?
Emily Blunt takes on the role of physicist Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty and the mother of his children. She is also a biologist and botanist and has her own troubled past that could affect her husband’s career.
Where else have you seen Emily?
Emily has an extensive acting career, but one of her most notable roles is as snobby Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada.
While she’s had other big parts in blockbusters including Edge of Tomorrow, The Adjustment Bureau, The Girl on the Train, Mary Poppins Returns and A Quiet Place.
Character: Emily Blunt takes on the role of physicist Oppenheimer’s wife Kitty and the mother of his children
Actress: Emily has an extensive acting career, but one of her most notable roles is as snobby Emily Charlton in The Devil Wears Prada
Matt Damon (Leslie Groves)
Who is Leslie Groves?
Leslie is a lieutenant general in the United States Army – an engineer who directed the Manhattan Project.
Where else have you seen Matt Damon?
One of the biggest stars on the production, Matt is famed for his blockbuster role as Jason Bourne in the Bourne franchise. While he’s previously worked with Nolan before on Interstellar.
Other notable films under his belt include Good Will Hunting, The Martian, The Departed, Saving Private Ryan, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Elysium and Ocean’s Eleven.
Film: Matt plays Leslie who is a lieutenant general in the United States Army and an engineer who directed the Manhattan Project
Big star: One of the biggest stars on the production, Matt is famed for his blockbuster role as Jason Bourne in the Bourne franchise
Florence Pugh (Jean Tatlock)
Who is Jean Tatlock?
Florence plays Jean Tatlock, a psychiatrist, Communist Party member, and close friend of J Robert Oppenheimer. She was also involved in a romantic relationship with Oppenheimer, both before and during his marriage to Kitty.
Where else have you seen Florence?
Florence has a number of successful films under her belt including Little Women, Midsommar, Don’t Worry Darling, Black Widow and Fighting With My Family.
Star: Florence plays Jean Tatlock, a psychiatrist, Communist Party member, and close friend of J Robert Oppenheimer
Roles: Florence has a number of successful films under her belt including Little Women, Midsommar, Don’t Worry Darling, Black Widow and Fighting With My Family
Robert Downey Jr. (Lewis Strauss)
Who is Lewis Strauss?
Lewis Strauss is a naval officer and founding commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission who played a key role in shaping America’s post-war nuclear policy.
Where else have you seen Robert?
Marvel fans will most definitely know Robert for his incredible time playing Tony Stark’s Iron Man in the comic book franchise.
He’s also known for films such as Sherlock Holmes, Tropic Thunder, Dolittle, Chaplin and Chef.
In character: Lewis Strauss is a naval officer and founding commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission who played a key role in shaping America’s post-war nuclear policy (Robert pictured)
Popular: Marvel fans will most definitely know Robert for his incredible time playing Tony Stark’s Iron Man in the comic book franchise
Josh Hartnett (Ernest Lawrence)
Who is Ernest Lawrence?
Ernest Lawrence is a pioneering American nuclear scientist who won the 1939 Nobel Prize for his invention of the cyclotron. While he was also instrumental in helping Oppenheimer with developing the atomic bomb.
Where else have you seen Josh?
Josh rose to fame with his role in 1998’s Halloween H20: 20 Years Later alongside Jamie Lee Curtis.
He has also appeared in Pearl Harbor, Black Hawk Down, The Faculty, The Black Dahlia and Lucky Number Slevin.
Unrecognisable: Ernest Lawrence is a pioneering American nuclear scientist who won the 1939 Nobel Prize for his invention of the cyclotron
Career: Josh rose to fame with his role in 1998’s Halloween H20: 20 Years Later alongside Jamie Lee Curtis
Rami Malek (David Hill)
Who is David Hill?
Rami plays David Hill, an associate experimental physicist who is far from happy with the use of atomic weaponry.
Where else have you seen Rami?
Rami bagged an Oscar for his epic portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody.
He’s also bagged roles in Night at the Museum, No Time to Die, Papillon and Until Dawn.
Scientist: Rami plays David Hill, an associate experimental physicist who is far from happy with the use of atomic weaponry
Fame: Rami bagged an Oscar for his epic portrayal of Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody
Sir Kenneth Branagh (Niels Bohr)
Who is Niels Bohr?
Kenneth plays Niels, a Nobel Prize-winning Danish physicist who was praised for his study of atomic structure and famed ‘Copenhagen Interpretation’ of quantum mechanics, while he also created the Bohr model of the atom.
Where else have you seen Kenneth?
Kenneth is a legendary, academy Award-winning director, actor and writer, who as well as his fine work in Shakespeare productions, has a number of films under his belt.
He played Gilderoy Lockheart in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, while other films include Dunkirk, Thor, Belfast and Tenet.
Part: Kenneth plays Niels, a Nobel Prize-winning Danish physicist who was praised for his study of atomic structure and famed ‘Copenhagen Interpretation’ of quantum mechanics
Legend: Kenneth is a legendary, academy Award-winning director, actor and writer, who as well as his fine work in Shakespeare productions, has a number of films under his belt
Oppenheimer full cast list
Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer
Emily Bunt as Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer
Matt Damon as Leslie Groves
Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss
Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock
Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence
Casey Affleck as Boris Pash
Rami Malek as David Hill
Kenneth Branagh as Niels Bohr
Dylan Arnold as Frank Oppenheimer
Gustaf Skarsgård as Hans Bethe
Tom Conti as Albert Einstein
Dane DeHaan as Kenneth Nichols
Alden Ehrenreich as a senate aide
David Krumholtz as Isidor Isaac Rabi
Jack Quaid as Richard Feynman
Josh Peck as Kenneth Bainbridge
Danny Defferari as Enrico Fermi
Jefferson Hall as Haakon Chevalier
Jason Clarke as Roger Robb
James D’Arcy as Patrick Blackett
Tony Goldwyn as Gordon Gray
Devon Bostick as Seth Neddermeyer
Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush
Emma Dumont as Jackie Oppenheimer
Alex Wolff as Luis Walter Alvarez
Scott Grimes as Counsel
Josh Zuckerman as Giovanni Rossi Lomanitz
Matthias Schweighöfer as Werner Heisenberg
Christopher Denham as Klaus Fuchs
David Rysdahl as Donald Hornig
Guy Burnet as George Eltenton
Louise Lombard as Ruth Tolman
Harrison Gilbertson as Philip Morrison
Trond Fausa Aurvåg as George Kistiakowsky
Olli Haaskivi as Edward Condon
John Gowans as Ward Evans
Kurt Koehler as Thomas A. Morgan
Macon Blair as Lloyd Garrison
Harry Groener as Gale W. McGee
Jack Cutmore-Scott as Lyall Johnson
James Remar as Henry Stimson
Gregory Jbara as Warren Magnuson
Tim DeKay as John Pastore
James Urbaniak as Kurt Gödel
Benny Safdie as Edward Teller
Gary Oldman as Harry S. Truman
Olivia Thirlby as Lilli Hornig
Oppenheimer was the director of the laboratory which designed the atomic bomb during World War Two as part of the top-secret Manhattan Project.
The film is being adapted from the 2006 book American Prometheus: The Triumph And Tragedy Of J. Robert Oppenheimer, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
The book, which won the Pulitzer Prize, details Oppenheimer’s personal life and his time leading the Manhattan Project in the early and mid-1940s.
The film is set to be released on July 21 and has already been hailed as a contender to scoop multiple awards.
Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer: What do the critics think?
The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin
‘Am torn between being all coy and mysterious about Oppenheimer and just coming out and saying it’s a total knockout’
Vulture movie critic Bilge Ebiri
‘OPPENHEIMER is… incredible. A relentlessly paced, insanely detailed, intricate historical drama that builds and builds and builds until Nolan brings the hammer down in the most astonishing, shattering way.’
Jonathan Dean of The Sunday Times
‘Totally absorbed in OPPENHEIMER. An audacious, inventive, complex film to rattle its audience.’
The Associated Press’ film writer Lindsey Bahr
‘It is truly a spectacular achievement, in its truthful, concise adaptation, inventive storytelling and nuanced performances from Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon and the many others involved.’
Matt Maytum of Total Film
‘An epic historical drama but with a distinctly Nolan sensibility: the tension, structure, sense of scale, startling sound design, remarkable visuals. Wow.’
Elsa Keslassy of Variety
‘A sign that French audiences loved #Oppenheimer is that they stayed in front of the Grand Rex theater long after the film ended to debate about it!’
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