Christopher Nolan’s approach to crafting Oppenheimer can be described as either craziness or dedication, but it is undoubtedly commendable. The individuals involved in the movie, including the cast, particularly Cillian Murphy, shared a like-mindedness that was evident and praiseworthy, to say the least. Every single detail, no matter how minute, was meticulously attended to and given utmost importance. In addition to sticking to a “Zero CGI” policy, Nolan also expressed his disinterest in using artificial wigs that might detract from the movie’s authenticity and compromise its essence.
To his great surprise, Murphy shared the same belief as Nolan, and to achieve authenticity, the actor decided to wear the classic Thomas Shelby hairstyle from Peaky Blinders one last time while filming its final season. Consequently, the shooting schedule for Oppenheimer had to be carefully timed to allow Murphy’s hair to grow back to portray one of the most significant figures in human history accurately.
Why Did Christopher Nolan Schedule Oppenheimer Shoot Around Cillian Murphy’s Haircut?
In his pursuit of authenticity, Christopher Nolan went above and beyond for Oppenheimer. Despite his previous feats of crashing a plane and flipping a truck for realism in other movies, he took it even further this time. While explosions were created on smaller scales on sets to mimic the massacre that changed the world forever, Nolan also went a step further and scheduled the shooting dates around Cillian Murphy‘s haircut.
At the time of filming, Murphy was still sporting the iconic Thomas Shelby haircut that had captured worldwide attention. As a result, the director made sure to plan everything accordingly, ensuring that Murphy wouldn’t need to wear a wig to embody the character of J. Robert Oppenheimer. In an interview with New York Times, Nolan said,
“I did insist on scheduling [shooting] around Cillian’s haircut. Because I’m very allergic to wigs in movies. I really wanted the film to not have any obvious artifice when it came to the way characters presented themselves.”
Although some may consider these extreme measures unnecessary, they were undeniably instrumental in bringing to life the narrative and vision that Christopher Nolan aimed to achieve for the story.
Cillian Murphy Shared Christopher Nolan’s Strong Hatred For Wigs
Prior to his New York Times interview, Cillian Murphy’s 2019 Vulture interview revealed that he shares Christopher Nolan’s aversion to using wigs to portray his characters. This preference influenced his decision to don the daring and iconic haircut for all six seasons of Peaky Blinders and, in turn, adopt J. Robert Oppenheimer’s hairstyle for the role, rather than relying on wigs. He said,
“Yeah, but it’s fine. I don’t generally do wigs. I think they look phony. If I see that a character has to wear a wig, I generally won’t do the part. I’ve gotten more tolerant of the haircut over the years. And bizarrely, it’s become a desirable cut amongst the fashionistas, which is staggering to me. It’s one more sign of how the show has infiltrated the mainstream culture.”
During the interview, Cillian Murphy disclosed that despite facing challenges with blending into crowds due to his distinctive hairstyle, he still would deliberately avoid taking on roles that would necessitate him to wear wigs. The hairstyle ultimately became a global sensation, captivating countless individuals who aspired to replicate that exact look.
Source: Vulture
