Cillian Murphy Reveals The Traditional and Unusual Way Christopher Nolan Delivers His Scripts

Cillian Murphy recently unveiled an intriguing insight into the working dynamics of acclaimed director Christopher Nolan. Known for their successful collaborations, the pair's professional relationship extends beyond the camera lens, delving into the realm of secret deliveries and unique traditions.

In a chat with British GQ, Murphy shed light on Nolan's peculiar method of script delivery, which involves enlisting the help of his family members. Having worked together on six cinematic ventures, including the critically acclaimed 'Oppenheimer,' the actor recounted how Nolan ensures the utmost secrecy surrounding his unreleased projects by personally delivering scripts.

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"It's been his mum who's delivered the script to me before. Or his brother; he'll go away and come back in three hours," Murphy revealed, highlighting the cloak-and-dagger approach favoured by the director. This tradition not only serves to maintain the confidentiality of the storyline but also adds a touch of ritualistic charm to the process, as Murphy attests.

However, breaking away from convention 'Oppenheimer,' Nolan took the unconventional step of flying to Dublin, Ireland, to hand-deliver the script himself. "He'd already called me and said he wanted me to play the part. And I had said yes, because I always say yes to him," Murphy quipped, reflecting on their longstanding professional rapport.

Recalling the unique experience, Murphy described how Nolan left him alone in a Dublin hotel room to peruse the script, intuitively timing his return to coincide with Murphy's completion. "He doesn't have a phone or anything. But he knew instinctively when to come back," the actor reminisced, underscoring Nolan's meticulous attention to detail.

'Oppenheimer,' which has garnered an impressive 13 Oscar nominations, marks Murphy's sixth collaboration with Nolan, following their successful ventures in the 'Dark Knight' trilogy, 'Inception,' 'Interstellar' and 'Dunkirk.' The actor's admiration for Nolan's directorial prowess shines through as he describes the atmosphere on set as akin to a "private, intimate laboratory."

"Even though [Nolan] works at a tremendous pace, there's always room for curiosity and finding things out, and that's what making art should be about, you know?" Murphy mused, highlighting the creative freedom afforded by Nolan's approach. In contrast to the bustling chaos of typical film sets, Nolan's domain exudes a sense of focused calm, devoid of distractions such as mobile phones and idle chatter.

"And there's no chairs," Murphy added with a hint of amusement. "Because he doesn't sit down."