Oppenheimer: David Baddiel questions casting of Cillian Murphy as Jewish physicist

Cillian Murphy, known for publicly stating his atheism in 2007 despite being raised Catholic, portrays Oppenheimer, the title character in the movie of the same name. Oppenheimer, an atomic physicist, was born in the United States to Jewish immigrant parents.

David Baddiel has commented on the decision to cast a non-Jewish actor, Cillian Murphy, as J. Robert Oppenheimer in the box-office-busting film of the same name. Oppenheimer, a theoretical physicist involved in the development of the atomic bomb during World War II, was of Jewish descent, a fact referenced in the movie as he was the son of Jewish immigrants.

Baddiel, a comedian, expressed his views on “authenticity casting,” believing it to be an inherent concept in the film industry. He argued that casting directors are cautious about casting in line with minority backgrounds but seem less concerned when it comes to Jewish roles. Tom Conti, another non-Jewish actor, played Albert Einstein in the film, who was born to Jewish parents in Germany.

This issue is not new for Baddiel, who has previously written about the film’s depiction of Jewish characters, emphasizing the importance of context and authenticity when portraying minority roles. He pointed out that Oppenheimer’s Jewish heritage was a significant factor in his involvement in the development of the atomic bomb.

The movie “Oppenheimer,” directed by Christopher Nolan, has sparked controversy since its release, especially in India, where a scene involving the reading of a sacred Hindu scripture during a sex scene received backlash. Nevertheless, the film performed well at the box office, competing against Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” and inspiring the social media trend “Barbenheimer,” encouraging viewers to watch both films over the same weekend. This led to record ticket sales for several cinema chains.