Oppenheimer: what is Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy’s new film about & release date

Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy will be returning to cinema screens this year as plays the lead role in Christopher Nolan’s much anticipated new film Oppenheimer.

The historical biographical film is expected to be one of 2023’s major film releases.

Nolan is known for his epic action films including the Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Interstellar, and Tenet. His latest endeavour will see longtime collaborator and Murphy take on the lead role of the nuclear scientist.

The film features an all-star cast recogniseable from other big budget movies - and a dramatic new trailer was released today showcasing the stunning visuals of the film.

So, this is everything we know so far about Oppenheimer so far.

What is the film about?

Shot in 2022, the film tells the story of American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer and his role in the development of the atomic bomb in the Manhattan Project during the Second World War. Oppenheimer became known as the father of the atomic bomb because of the instrumental role he played in developing the weapon of mass destruction that would bring the war in Japan to a close.

The film was adapted by Nolan from American Prometheus, a 2005 biography by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

The Manhattan project was a secretive mission undertaken by the Americans, in collaboration with the UK and Canada, from 1942-1946 to build an atomic weapon before the Germans or Japanese and thereby win the Second World War.

Who stars alongside Cillian Murphy in the film?

A host of star names, including Oscar winners such as Rami Malek and Casey Afflek also feature in Nolan’s epic. They include:

• Cillian Murphy as J. Robert Oppenheimer
• Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer
• Matt Damon as Leslie Groves Jr.
• Robert Downey Jr. as Lewis Strauss
• Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock
• Gary Oldman as Harry S. Truman
• James Remar as Henry Stimson
• David Krumholtz in an unnamed role
• Kenneth Branagh in an unnamed role
• Jack Quaid in an unnamed role
• Rami Malek in an unnamed role
• David Dastmalchian in an unnamed role
• Casey Affleck in an unnamed role

When is the release date?

Oppenheimer will be released exclusively in cinemas in the UK on 21 July 2023. The film is not yet scheduled for release on any streaming platforms.