Skip To Main Content
Reinvention edition banner 1180x90
Reinvention edition banner 778x150

Cillian Murphy Builds the World’s First Atomic Bomb in New ‘Oppenheimer’ Trailer


The race for building the world’s first atomic bomb is on in the second trailer for Christopher Nolan‘s Oppenheimer. Universal Pictures recently dropped another new full-length trailer for Nolan’s upcoming biographical drama, which offers us a peek behind the curtains at the engineers/scientists working on the Manhattan Project. While there’s an underlying fear surrounding the detrimental effects of the atomic bomb, but that doesn’t stop Cillian Murphy’s Robert Oppenheimer and company from assembling the most lethal weapon that completely changed the course of human history.

After collaborating with Nolan on numerous projects, Cillian Murphy finally lands a leading part for the first time in Oppenheimer, taking on the role of the titular character. The upcoming film will walk us through the life of prominent American physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, otherwise known as the father of the atomic bomb, charting the pivotal role he played in the Manhattan Project, which ultimately led to the creation of the first atomic bomb. The film also draws inspiration from the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.

RELATED – FIRST LOOK: Cillian Murphy Plots the Beginning of the End in First Official ‘Oppenheimer’ Trailer

'Oppenheimer' Trailer

Cillian Murphy finally lands a leading part for the first time in Oppenheimer |Image: Universal

The latest trailer is packed with pulse-pounding drama and teases a high-stakes undertaking, which involved designing the first-ever atomic bomb. The preview even shows Murphy’s Oppenheimer coming to terms with the seriousness of what he and his colleagues have created, making him rethink his greatest invention. The second trailer opens with Robert Downey Jr.’s Lewis Strauss’ grave-sounding voice, announcing “This is a national emergency.” His dialogue is paired with the shot of Murphy and other scientists getting ready to test out the atomic bomb, which is followed by a series of artful nuclear explosions.

“We’re in a race against the Nazis and I know what it means if the Nazis have a bomb,” warns Murphy’s Oppenheimer. We then get our best look at Matt Damon as Manhattan Project director Lt. Gen. Leslie Groves devising ways to build the atomic bomb with Oppenheimer. The two come up with a plan that involves building a secret township and laboratory in the middle of nowhere and assembling a team of scientists and engineers to become part of the Manhattan Project without letting them know what they are actually getting into.

“Keep everyone there until it’s done,” says Oppenheimer. Damon’s Groves and Oppenheimer then go on to recruit some scientists but that turns out to be harder than they thought it would be. “Why would we go to the middle of nowhere for who knows how long?” says one of the scientists. However, Damon’s Groves manages to rally everyone with his “most important thing in the history of the world” speech. Shots of scientists along with Oppenheimer putting together the atomic bomb are thrown in and we even get a brief glimpse of Tom Conti’s Albert Einstein, who looks disappointed in Oppenheimer and his destructive invention.

'Oppenheimer' Trailer

Robert Downey Jr as Lewis Strauss | Image: Universal

This is followed by Murphy’s Robert Oppenheimer warning how there could be a “near zero” chance that the atomic bomb could blow up the planet, leaving Groves a bit worried about whether they should press that trigger. Oppenheimer and company finally succeed in building the world’s most powerful weapon which leads Oppenheimer to believe that his work will restore “peace” in the world. However, he’s made to rethink everything when he’s warned that could completely change if someone builds a bigger bomb than him. The trailer ends with Oppenheimer being ominously warned, “You’re the man who gave them the power to destroy themselves… and the world is not prepared.”

The movie also stars Emily Blunt as biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, Florence Pugh as psychiatrist Jean Tatlock, Benny Safdie as theoretical physicist Edward Teller, Michael Angarano as Robert Serber and Josh Hartnett as nuclear scientist Ernest Lawrence. Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, Dane DeHaan, Dylan Arnold, David Krumholtz, Alden Ehrenreich and Matthew Modine have also been cast in currently undisclosed roles.

We can’t wait to witness one of the most inspiring and hair-raising events in the course of human history through a whole new perspective when Oppenheimer hits theaters on July 21.

'Oppenheimer' Trailer

Emily Blunt will play biologist and botanist Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer | Image: Universal

RELATED – Cillian Murphy to Star in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer’