It’s been over a year since Oppenheimer was released in theaters, and Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy’s next movie, Small Things Like These, is the perfect follow-up. Cillian Murphy has been active in the film industry for nearly three decades, but he’s never been in the spotlight as prominently as he was in 2023 after playing the titular role in the Oppenheimer cast. For playing historic physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy took home a Golden Globe, an Academy Award, and received immense acclaim for starring in his first almost-$1 billion-grossing movie.
Murphy has received consistent praise throughout his career, most widely recognized for his supporting roles in Christopher Nolan’s movies, like Scarecrow in The Dark Knight trilogy, and supporting characters in Inception and Dunkirk. He also led the cast of the critically acclaimed crime drama TV series Peaky Blinders for all six seasons and will be following up on the role in the Peaky Blinders sequel movie. But that’s just one of the many exciting projects in Cillian Murphy’s future, with his next film being Small Things Like These in November 2024.
What Is Small Things Like These? Cillian Murphy’s New Movie Explained
Small Things Like These Is A Historical Drama With Positive Reviews
Cillian Murphy’s upcoming movie, Small Things Like These, is based on Irish author Claire Keegan’s book of the same name and seems to be a passion project for the 48-year-old star. He’s producing the film, as well as leading its cast, alongside Oppenheimer co-star Matt Damon. The movie is being developed by Damon and Ben Affleck’s production company, Artist’s Equity, alongside Murphy’s company, Big Things Films. Actors Emily Watson (Dune: Prophecy), Michelle Fairley (Game of Thrones), and Eileen Walsh (Ann) will co-star alongside him.
Small Things Like These follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant who discovers disturbing secrets about his town and the local convent leading up to Christmas in 1985. It should be an intense historical fiction drama with a powerful performance from Murphy, who’s no rookie when it comes to period pieces. The movie premiered at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival in early 2024, receiving mostly positive reviews, and will premiere in Ireland and the UK on November 1, 2024. It will be released on November 8, 2024, in the United States, just a week later.
Small Things Like These Is Great For Cillian Murphy After Oppenheimer
Following the unprecedented success of Oppenheimer, a film that made nearly 10 times its budget back in its theatrical run, Cillian Murphy likely has more movie roles being offered to him than ever before. Not only is he a ridiculously talented veteran actor, but Murphy has become a recognizable face and a popular name in his own right, despite expressing minimal interest in the stardom side of his job. And yet, when Murphy could be taking any role with a massive paycheck, he’s respectably starring in a small Irish drama film.
with this being his first role since Oppenheimer , it’s bound to receive more attention than it otherwise would have.
Cillian Murphy has starred in outstanding Irish films before like The Wind That Shakes the Barley, where he’s delivered some of his best work. Ireland’s film industry isn’t anywhere near as extensive as Hollywood’s, and it’s fantastic that Murphy is using his clout and credibility to bring attention to movies that might not otherwise receive due funding or viewership. Especially with this being his first role since Oppenheimer, it’s bound to receive more attention than it otherwise would have. It will also shine a light on a very important piece of Irish history.
Of course, there’s nothing explicitly wrong with actors wanting to star in major blockbuster franchises. Oppenheimer co-star and fellow Academy Award-winner Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most respected contemporary actors, and the majority of his audience knows him as Iron Man. In the case of such an alluring and unique talent like Cillian Murphy, however, it’s more exciting to see him continue taking on passion projects and acting jobs that interest him. He’s continuing to expand his filmography with fascinating work, and it will be exciting to see what he does.
Will Small Things Like These Get Cillian Murphy Another Oscar Nomination?
The Movie Might Be Too Small For Oscar Attention, But You Never Know
It’s still early in the year to be predicting awards season, given that many of the Oscar-targeted films won’t be coming out until the final months of 2024. On the one hand, there doesn’t seem to be any clear contender for Best Actor, unlike in 2023 where predictions for Murphy’s win were happening before Oppenheimer had even released. This could pave the way for a sneaky winner like Small Things Like These, and it would be fun to see Murphy win back-to-back, but it doesn’t seem entirely likely. It’s just a small film that’s naturally going to be an outsider in the race.
Unfortunately, narratives and politicking play a crucial role in the Academy Awards. Murphy had such a clear path to winning for Oppenheimer because the movie was so massive, and he seemed to be everywhere in late 2023. Actors will often “campaign” for their Academy Award wins, making the rounds on various platforms to promote their work and essentially draw attention to their performances. In the case of Cillian Murphy, he doesn’t seem like the type of actor who would be that interested in doing this, and it’s probably not possible in the film’s promotional budget.
Other Upcoming Cillian Murphy Movies
Cillian Murphy Returns To Two Beloved Characters
While Cillian Murphy’s upcoming roles do include some franchise titles, it’s fair to say that it’s not quite the same. He’ll be starring in the Peaky Blinders movie and the long-awaited 28 Years Later, both of which could be pretty big releases. However, these are both franchises he’s been a part of from the beginning, and it’s not the same as him signing on to the Marvel Cinematic Universe or something of that ilk. He’ll be reprising beloved roles that he’s played before, and they’ll likely both be final installments for their respective series.
Aside from the two main titles, Cillian Murphy is attached to three other films in various development stages. He’s set to play the titular character in Tim Mielants’ film, Steve, which will see him paired with the Small Things Like These director once again. He’s attached to a project called Blood Runs Coal, which is another period drama that doesn’t have a filmmaker attached to it just yet. Lastly, Murphy is on board to play the lead in a movie called Hippie Hippie Shake, a film set in 1960s London.
