![Robert Downey Jr, left, as Lewis Strauss and Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XV5THMXHDFBWFEQUF6ILKUYUYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d02226eca2cafd43f105b2a1b8a7c2aef0a0383321882fd58c351ebde858d09b&width=400&height=225)
![Damon, left, and Murphy in the film](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WLHQO7L4QFFMHFB4EMJIAMGVWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e2ccf09a074df95a31eb94884b50d3476f423412e8cc607b0931cb963aedcf&width=400&height=225)
![Robert Downey Jr plays Lewis Strauss](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VZULOWE72NG35KYJS6XEM2QPT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fedee616bcb99b5f69714979cd34e0b45d589e6e1fb4f2eeba41f8ac66df3ab&width=400&height=225)
![Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JCRXYUTK25E4RLLPSSTX23DB5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=f231d6ddbc80c15c70fea7d856b418dd0318ecb211c6cfc8d44430138f2c3e32&width=400&height=225)
![From left, Murphy, Olli Haaskivi as Edward Condon, Damon and Dane DeHaan as Kenneth Nichols](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLX6KCPUOBGKXEXFHYM2JEW2CY.jpg?smart=true&auth=00adb07306d900c2a35a930a02e16330cfd8369e2f26a88bb74919a6d10cbc1f&width=400&height=225)
![DeHaan in the film](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LAQAZPP3VNAMTCFU7MKDHPICH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e759bfc57c4671b897c1a1c19062261e8d02344fd48c743f7b558b493a80ec4&width=400&height=225)
![Jason Clarke as Roger Robb](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCCPECIFAFGWVKY4SPRU3MBODI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8c813555e448cbce60c2ed340eba4975e7136b2d82bf5808bca6869ddd73a635&width=400&height=225)
![Robert Downey Jr, left, as Lewis Strauss and Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XV5THMXHDFBWFEQUF6ILKUYUYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d02226eca2cafd43f105b2a1b8a7c2aef0a0383321882fd58c351ebde858d09b&width=400&height=225)
![Damon, left, and Murphy in the film](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WLHQO7L4QFFMHFB4EMJIAMGVWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=93e2ccf09a074df95a31eb94884b50d3476f423412e8cc607b0931cb963aedcf&width=400&height=225)
![Robert Downey Jr plays Lewis Strauss](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VZULOWE72NG35KYJS6XEM2QPT4.jpg?smart=true&auth=0fedee616bcb99b5f69714979cd34e0b45d589e6e1fb4f2eeba41f8ac66df3ab&width=400&height=225)
![Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JCRXYUTK25E4RLLPSSTX23DB5Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=f231d6ddbc80c15c70fea7d856b418dd0318ecb211c6cfc8d44430138f2c3e32&width=400&height=225)
![From left, Murphy, Olli Haaskivi as Edward Condon, Damon and Dane DeHaan as Kenneth Nichols](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MLX6KCPUOBGKXEXFHYM2JEW2CY.jpg?smart=true&auth=00adb07306d900c2a35a930a02e16330cfd8369e2f26a88bb74919a6d10cbc1f&width=400&height=225)
![DeHaan in the film](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LAQAZPP3VNAMTCFU7MKDHPICH4.jpg?smart=true&auth=1e759bfc57c4671b897c1a1c19062261e8d02344fd48c743f7b558b493a80ec4&width=400&height=225)
![Jason Clarke as Roger Robb](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DCCPECIFAFGWVKY4SPRU3MBODI.jpg?smart=true&auth=8c813555e448cbce60c2ed340eba4975e7136b2d82bf5808bca6869ddd73a635&width=400&height=225)
![Robert Downey Jr, left, as Lewis Strauss and Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/XV5THMXHDFBWFEQUF6ILKUYUYQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=d02226eca2cafd43f105b2a1b8a7c2aef0a0383321882fd58c351ebde858d09b&width=400&height=225)
Oppenheimer: Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan on why humanity needs this story now
Irish actor Murphy, who plays the eponymous physicist, tells The National why the film 'speaks to what's happening in the world, geopolitically'
Chris Newbould
July 17, 2023
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