Christopher Nolan's latest summer blockbuster, 'Oppenheimer', is set to be released on July 21, with Corkonian Cillian Murphy starring as the film's titular character.
The role is undoubtedly his biggest to date, and has made him one of the early favourites to land the Best Actor award at next year's Oscars.
However, he is still considered an A-list actor given his previous roles in Nolan movies, and his acclaimed performance as Thomas Shelby in the hugely influential Peaky Blinders.
For this reason, fans of Murphy were confused by comments from Oppenheimer co-star Robert Downey Jr - from a joint interview with Murphy - which downplayed the renown of the Irish actor.
While Downey's point is understandable, if put across poorly, his comments on Murphy risking his privacy with this new role are strange, given the current fame of the actor.
Robert Downey Jr. x Cillian Murphy
does he think Cillian’s some kind of C tier niche Irish actor 😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/DbtpKivBhL
— Nariman (@slytherinus) July 7, 2023
READ HERE: Cillian Murphy Moved His Kids Back To Ireland Due To Their 'Posh' English Accents
"I have always said publicly and privately, to Chris, that if I’m available and you want me to be in a movie, I’m there," said Murphy in a previous interview.
"I don’t really care about the size of the part. But deep down, secretly, I was desperate to play a lead for him.
“He’s so understated and self-deprecating and, in his very English manner, just said, ‘Listen, I’ve written this script, it’s about Oppenheimer. I’d like you to be my Oppenheimer.
“It was a great day… We have this long-standing understanding and trust and shorthand and respect. It felt like the right time to take on a bigger responsibility. And it just so happened that it was a huge one.”
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