Cillian Murphy Says Divisive ‘Oppenheimer’ Sex Scene Is ‘Vital’; Oppenheimer’s Grandson ‘Would’ve Removed’ That Poison Apple Moment

Christopher Nolans Oppenheimer has generated a lot of headlines due to its nudity and sex scenes, the first of the directors career. Cillian Murphy, who plays the title character in Nolans biographical drama, was recently asked by GQ UK to weigh in on all of the buzz surrounding the Oppenheimer sex scenes, to which Murphy said they were vital to the film. The film depicts sex between Oppenheimer and Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh), a physicianwith whom Oppenheimer had a romance with before and during his marriage to Katherine Puening (Emily Blunt).

I think they were vital in this in this movie, Murphy explained. I think the relationship that he has with Jean Tatlock is one of the most crucial emotional parts of the film. I think if theyre key to the story then theyre worthwhile. Listen, no one likes doing them, theyre the most awkward possible part of our job. But sometimes you have to get on with it.

Nolanshared similar thoughts in an Insider interview that published before the films theatrical opening. The films sex scenes are one of the reasons Oppenheimer is rated R the first Nolan movie to receive that rating since 2002s Insomnia.

When you look at Oppenheimers life and you look at his story, that aspect of his life, the aspect of his sexuality, his way with women, the charm that he exuded, its an essential part of his story,Nolan said. It felt very important to understand their relationship and to really see inside it and understand what made it tick without being coy or allusive about it but to try to be intimate, to try and be in there with him and fully understand the relationship that was so important to him.

Another divisive scene in the movie arrives early on when Oppenheimer is a university student and injects cyanide into an apple that is on the desk of his professor, physicist Patrick Blackett (James DArcy). The moment arrives after a scene in which Blackett is tough on Oppenheimer in class and forces him to stay behind as the group goes to see a lecture by Niels Bohr (Kenneth Branagh), one of Oppenheimers personal heroes. Oppenheimer sneaks out anyway to see the lecture and then poisons the apple on Blacketts desk. Later on, Oppenheimer walks into the classroom to see Bohr and Blackett chatting and Bohr is about to eat the apple. Oppenheimer snatches it away just in time.

Although the poisoned apple is lifted from American Prometheus, the Oppenheimer biography that serves as the source of Nolans screenplay, the book also makes it clear theres no historical proof that Oppenheimer actually tried to kill his teacher. This is why Charles Oppenheimer, the grandson of J. Robert Oppenheimer, wouldve preferred the scene not make it into Nolans film.

Sometimes facts get dragged through a game of telephone, Charles told Time magazine. In the movie, its treated vaguely and you dont really know whats going on unless you know this incredibly deep backstory. So it honestly didnt bother me. It bothers me that it was in the biography with that emphasis, not a disclaimer of, this is an unsubstantiated rumor that we want to put in our book to make it interesting.

Charles, who Nolan invited to visit the Oppenheimer set during filming, added, I definitely would have removed the apple thing. But I cant imagine myself giving advice about movie stuff to Nolan. Hes an expert, hes the artist, and hes a genius in this area.

Oppenheimer is now playing in theaters nationwide from Universal Pictures.