Robert Downey Jr. was hesitant to take on any new roles about a year before the pandemic. However, he was immediately drawn to the project when he heard that Christopher Nolan was directing. Downey Jr. had long been a fan of Nolan’s work and he knew that this would be an opportunity to work with one of the best directors in the business.
“I was actually in the middle of taking a break from acting when I heard about ‘Oppenheimer’,” Downey Jr. said in an interview to News 18. “But as soon as I heard that Chris was involved, I knew I had to be a part of it.”
Downey Jr. plays Lewis Strauss, the chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, in the film. He said that he was drawn to the role because of Strauss’s complex and conflicted nature. “He was a man who was deeply committed to his work, but he also had a lot of doubts about the potential consequences of the atomic bomb”, Downey Jr. said. “I thought that was a really interesting character to explore.”
“I’m really proud of what we’ve made”, Downey Jr. said. “I think it’s a film that will stay with people long after they’ve seen it. ‘Oppenheimer’ is a massive film”, he added. “It’s a story about the creation of the atomic bomb and it’s a story that needs to be told.”
‘Oppenheimer’ is scheduled to be released in theatres on July 21, 2023. The film also stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Florence Pugh.
