Emily Blunt reveals the whole Oppenheimer crew read American Prometheus before filming

The actress said the 2005 biography of the 'father of the atomic bomb' was crucial to character development

Emily Blunt in Oppenheimer, which is written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan. Photo: Universal Pictures

Emily Blunt says the entire crew of Oppenheimer, including the scientific advisors, read American Prometheus before beginning filming.

The British actress said the 2005 biography of the US theoretical physicist had been "super helpful" and contained "endless nuggets" to help with character development.

Blunt stars alongside Cillian Murphy and Florence Pugh in the film, directed by Christopher Nolan, which tells the story of the "father of the atomic bomb".

Cillian Murphy plays the titular J Robert Oppenheimer in the film written, produced and directed by Christopher Nolan. All Photos: Universal Pictures

Matt Damon plays Leslie Groves in Oppenheimer

Damon, left, and Murphy in the film

Florence Pugh as Jean Tatlock and Murphy

Robert Downey Jr plays Lewis Strauss

Josh Hartnett as Ernest Lawrence

Emily Blunt as Kitty Oppenheimer

From left, Murphy, Olli Haaskivi as Edward Condon, Damon and Dane DeHaan as Kenneth Nichols

DeHaan in the film

Jason Clarke as Roger Robb

Robert Downey Jr, left, as Lewis Strauss and Matthew Modine as Vannevar Bush

It is based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J Robert Oppenheimer, written by Kai Bird and Martin J Sherwin.

Speaking at a photocall for the film in London on Wednesday, Blunt recalled preparing for the role while flying out to New Mexico to begin production.

"We all read American Prometheus," she said.

"I remember on the flight to New Mexico when it was starting – everyone on board was reading that book, the entire (crew)... all the scientists were reading the book.

"We're all trying to cram it before we started, but it was super helpful. There were endless little nuggets and wonderful little nuances to think about the characters."

Blunt added that the script for Oppenheimer had been "so visceral and so evocative" that there had been "nothing to invent".

"It was all there," she said.

Murphy, who plays the titular role in the film, said that he had received the call for the role "out of the blue" from Nolan's wife, Emma Thomas – the film's producer.

He said: "That's Chris' MO (modus operandi)... he said, 'I'm making a movie about Oppenheimer and I'd like you to play Oppenheimer'. So it was just a very pleasant shock."

Asked about the moral responsibility of scientists in the modern age, Murphy continued: "I think whatever you think about that, we're all living in Oppenheimer's world now.

"We're all living in the nuclear age that he created."

Oppenheimer is due to release in cinemas across the UAE on July 20