Cillian Murphy Reveals the Nolan Film That Left Him Heartbroken
Cillian Murphy opens up about his deep regret over missing out on Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar, sharing how the film’s emotional impact stayed with him long after the credits rolled.
Few creative partnerships in Hollywood are as iconic as the one between Christopher Nolan and Cillian Murphy. Their professional journey began in the early 2000s, when Nolan was captivated by Murphy’s performance in 28 Days Later. Initially, Nolan considered Murphy for the role of Bruce Wayne, even inviting him to dinner to discuss the possibility. It quickly became clear, though, that Murphy wasn’t the right fit for Batman. Still, the meeting sparked a connection that would shape both of their careers.
Instead of casting him as the Caped Crusader, Nolan offered Murphy the part of Scarecrow, a role that, while memorable, didn’t give the actor the spotlight he truly deserved. Over the years, the two have collaborated on six films, but it wasn’t until 2023 that Murphy finally landed a leading role in a Nolan project, taking center stage in Oppenheimer. Murphy’s ability to bring depth and humanity to Nolan’s often grand, complex stories has become a defining feature of their work together.
Missed Opportunities and Lasting Impact
Despite their long-standing collaboration, Murphy and Nolan have occasionally taken breaks from working together. After the intense experience of filming Oppenheimer, Murphy admitted he was relieved not to be involved in Nolan’s next project, The Odyssey . But there’s one film in Nolan’s catalog that Murphy wishes he hadn’t missed out on: Interstellar.
In a 2023 interview with The Independent, Murphy confessed that watching Nolan’s space epic stirred up a sense of longing.
“I adore Interstellar just because I find it so emotional,”
he shared, recalling how he saw the film in theaters when his children were still young.
“It just had a big impact on me,”
he continued.
“It broke my heart. I love watching his films when I’m not in them because you don’t have to freak out about the size of your ears, or whatever.”
The Emotional Core of Interstellar
Interstellar stands out among Nolan’s films for its emotional depth, exploring themes of family, loss, and the passage of time. The story follows Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, a former NASA physicist and farmer who is tasked with piloting a spacecraft through a wormhole in search of a new home for humanity. The heart of the film lies in Cooper’s agonizing decision: leave his children behind to save the world, or stay and risk humanity’s future.
Murphy was deeply moved by the film’s portrayal of these dilemmas. The emotional weight of the story, combined with Nolan’s signature storytelling, left a lasting impression on him. While Murphy believes he could have brought something unique to the role of Cooper, he also acknowledges that McConaughey’s performance was unforgettable, perfectly capturing the character’s mix of courage and vulnerability.