Was Robert Pattinson the influence behind 'Oppenheimer'? Christopher Nolan recalls how gift after 'Tenet' sparked vision
LOS ALAMOS, CALIFORNIA: Christopher Nolan attributes a significant role to Robert Pattinson in his decision to pursue the creation of 'Oppenheimer', one of this summer's highly anticipated films. This period piece revolves around the life of J Robert Oppenheimer, famously known as the "father of the atomic bomb," boasts an ensemble cast featuring acclaimed actors such as Cillian Murphy, Matt Damon, and Emily Blunt.
In a recent interview, Nolan disclosed that Robert played a crucial part in the inception of this movie. However, despite his involvement, you might be curious as to why Robert himself is not part of the cast. Christopher addressed this query during a conversation with Tara Hitchcock, explaining that the seed for the idea of 'Oppenheimer' was planted by Robert while they collaborated on the film 'Tenet' in 2020.
‘He gave me a book’
Reflecting on the impact of 'Tenet', Christopher Nolan reminisced about a pivotal moment involving Robert Pattinson, where they delved into the intriguing concept of Oppenheimer. He remembered, “Yeah, Rob, off the back of Tenet, where we refer to Oppenheimer, and I had wrote a thing about this incredible moment that Oppenheimer and the scientist of the Manhattan Project had where they could not completely eliminate the possibility that when they triggered that first gadget, that first atomic device, they might start the chain reaction that would destroy the world."
This metaphorical exploration of consequences served as a thematic foundation for 'Tenet', in which Robert played a role. “We used that as a metaphor for Tenet, which Rob was in. As a wrap gift, he gave me a book of Oppenheimer‘s speeches from the 1950s, where you’re reading these great intellects trying to deal with the massive consequences of the way in which they’ve changed life forever, for all of us." This gift and the insightful contents within captivated Nolan's attention, igniting a deep fascination with the story of Oppenheimer. ''I really got hooked and got hooked on the story," Nolan said
Pattinson’s projects
In other news, Netflix has secured the new project of Robert Pattinson and Robert Downey Jr, titled 'Average Height, Average Build', a dark comedy directed by Adam McKay. This collaboration marks a return for McKay to Netflix after his previous film, 'Don't Look Up'.
Excitement surrounds Pattinson as he embarks on another intriguing venture, 'Mickey 17', helmed by the acclaimed director Bong Joon-ho of 'Parasite' fame. The film has recently received an official release date. While Pattinson garnered acclaim for his portrayal of Bruce Wayne in 'The Batman', there is no official news yet regarding a potential sequel to the film.