Real Reason Christopher Nolan Did Not Trust Emily Blunt With Oppenheimer Script
Christopher Nolan is renowned for his mind-bending, multi-layered scripts that often leave audiences scratching their heads. So when he approached Emily Blunt about starring in his epic biopic Oppenheimer, he apparently had some reservations about just handing over the pages. As Blunt recently revealed, Nolan himself casually offered her the key role of Kitty Oppenheimer during a meeting at his house. But knowing the director’s reputation for narrative complexity, Blunt had concerns about whether she would be able to fully comprehend the intricacies of Nolan’s screenplay.
Were Christopher Nolan’s Doubts About Emily Blunt Founded?
While promoting Oppenheimer, Emily Blunt told Stephen Colbert that Christopher Nolan gave her the script printed on red paper to prevent photocopying. And reading it in Nolan’s expansive home library full of books initially intimidated Blunt.
“I was worried I wouldn’t keep up with it,” she confessed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. “His movies are so mind-bending and extraordinary, I was like, ‘Am I going to follow this?’”
Given Nolan’s pedigree with twisty movies like Inception and Tenet, Blunt’s apprehension is understandable. She clearly feared being totally lost in the Oppenheimer script’s complex scientific concepts and non-linear structure.
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Even Robert Pattinson Has Been Baffled By Christopher Nolan’s Scripts
If Nolan had any doubts about Blunt grasping Oppenheimer, they would be supported by past evidence. Nolan’s Tenet leading man, Robert Pattinson, has been very candid about not always understanding the filmmaker’s scripts.
While making Tenet, Pattinson admitted there were long stretches where he had “no idea” what was happening in the time-bending espionage story.
“I mean, you have to watch [Nolan’s films] when they’re completely finished and edited three or four times to understand what the true meaning is,” Pattinson told Esquire.
But despite his star’s past confusion, Nolan later claimed Pattinson actually had an “extremely acute” understanding of the Tenet script. So perhaps the director regretted not entrusting Blunt with Oppenheimer sooner.
Emily Blunt Delivered a Brilliant Performance in Oppenheimer
While Nolan may have initially doubted Blunt’s ability to comprehend his challenging scripts, she has proven her acting chops with her complex and moving performance in Oppenheimer. Despite any reservations, Nolan ultimately trusted Blunt with the crucial role of Oppenheimer’s wife. And her emotional work opposite Cillian Murphy’s title scientist is already generating major Oscar buzz.
Along with Pattinson, Blunt has shown that with close script analysis, Nolan’s concepts can be cracked and interpreted compellingly on screen. She may have lacked confidence at first when presented with those red pages in Nolan’s home. But now with rave reviews for Oppenheimer, Blunt has conclusively demonstrated her talent for tackling characters embedded in complex narratives.
Nolan clearly recognizes Blunt’s skills, having cast her again in his upcoming film Oppenheimer. So while the director’s scripts might confuse many actors, stars like Blunt and Pattinson have proven they are up for the challenge of unraveling Nolan’s cinematic puzzles.
