New photos from the set of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming war biopic Oppenheimer sees stars Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man) in costume as J. Robert Oppenheimer and Lewis Strauss, respectively. And many of us were shocked Robert Downey Jr. has grey hair all over his head. Based on the biography American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the movie will follow the life of the titular American physicist and his work on the Manhattan Project, the enterprise that eventually led to the development of the first atomic bomb. Joining Murphy and Downey Jr., the cast is set to feature Emily Blunt as Katherine “Kitty” Oppenheimer, Matt Damon as Lelis Groves, and Florence as Pugh Jean Tatlock. With a project release date of July 21st of, 2023, Oppenheimer will be Nolan’s second WWII drama after having scored his first Oscar nomination for Best Director with Dunkirk back in 2017.
Although filming for the WWII biopic is underway, there is still much mystery surrounding Oppenheimer, with many of its cast members – such as Kenneth Branagh, Rami Malek, and Gary Oldman – confirmed to appear in still-undisclosed roles. On top of this, precisely how much of Oppenheimer’s life and the specific elements the movie will explore have also been kept relatively secret. However, it will almost certainly look at the physicist’s work on the Manhattan Project. However, as Oppenheimer continues shooting, various behind-the-scenes shots have gradually started to circulate online, including snaps of Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt onset, providing a more detailed look at the upcoming biopic.
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ROBERT ON THE SET OF OPPENHEIMER pic.twitter.com/EFbMqx12EF
— DUCKLINGS COLLECTION (@rdjpicsvault) April 13, 2022
Robert Downey Jr. Has Grey Hair
Now, more onset photos captured behind-the-scenes have been released, which reveal Rober Downey Jr. Iron Man actor’s look as American businessman Lewis Strauss and a few more shots featuring Murphy in costume. As shared by the Daily Mail, the images show Downy Jr. and Murphy filming onset in Princeton, New Jersey, with Downey Jr. donning a blue suit with braces and sporting a greyed-up hairstyle. Fans have been shocked that Robert Downey Jr. has grey hair completely.
Strauss served as chairman of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) and, as such, was a major figure in the development of nuclear weapons. These latest images from the set Oppenheimer seem to show Murphy and Downey Jr.’s characters in conversation, and the facial expressions of both actors as Oppenheimer leaves appear to suggest that the pair have had some kind o altercation. This would certainly make sense, given that Oppenheimer and Strauss had an ongoing personal conflict with each other over the development of the atomic bomb that lasted well after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. However, although the images suggest that the rivalry between the two men will be one of the movie’s focus points, it remains unclear whether this interaction is set during the development of the Manhattan Project’s Trinity Test or after the end of the Second World War.
Based on the seemingly secretive nature of filming for Oppenheimer, these photos will likely help generate further excitement and speculation among fans eagerly anticipating Nolan’s latest movie. Certainly, this suggestion of Oppenheimer and Strauss’ rivalry will invite questions as to how much of the former’s life Nolan is looking to cover, with the Oppenheimer Security Hearing, in particular, presenting itself as a possible plot point. But although it will be quite some time until audiences will get to see Nolan’s biopic in cinemas, these images will not doubt fuel intrigue and anticipation for Oppenheimer as it continues production. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Robert Downey Jr. play in a movie since his role as Iron Man and most recent role in Dolittle.
