Did you know Cillian Murphy was considered for Oppenheimer on TV too? Here's what went wrong

 Cillian Murphy's Oppenheimer has been an absolute blockbuster. But did you know that this wasn't the first time he was considered for the role of the father of atomic bomb.

Cillian Murphy starrer Oppenheimer is a huge hit, in fact, that's an understatement. The hype around the movie has refused to die down, filling up show after show whether it be early in the morning or late at night. All the actors have garnered amazing responses from the audience for their acting, though it won't be unfair to say that Murphy well and truly held the whole narrative together with his brilliant performance. But do you know this was not the first time the actor was considered for the role of the infamous physicist?

Cillian Murphy could've played Oppenheimer on TV

Way before the Peaky Blinders actor was considered to play J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's movie, he had the chance to snag the role of the father of the atomic bomb in a short-lived TV show. 

Nine years ago, WGN America aired the show Manhattan, which took place in Los Alamos, New Mexico, during the efforts to develop an atomic bomb. The series primarily focused on Frank Winter, portrayed by John Benjamin Hickey, a physics professor supposedly leading the Manhattan Project in the fictional adaptation.

J. Robert Oppenheimer made appearances during the first season and had more significant roles in Season 2 of the show. However, Manhattan concluded after its second season, coming to an absurd end. 

Lily Byock, the writer of the show said in an Interview with Vanity Fair, "When we were casting Oppenheimer, we went through a whole series of different ideas." Sam Shaw, the creator of Manhatten explained they wanted the physicist to come off as charming as possible. He said, "We wanted Oppenheimer to feel both like he possessed a certain undeniable charisma, a presence onstage, but also that he was playing a different instrument. He needed to feel alien, or other, in some ways."

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