Cillian Murphy Will Star in ‘Blood Runs Coal’ Movie Adaptation

Cillian Murphy is reportedly set to take on a leading role in the movie adaptation of ‘Blood Runs Coal’ for Universal Pictures. According to Deadline Hollywood, Universal Pictures swiftly secured the rights to Mark A. Bradley’s ‘Blood Runs Coal: The Yablonski Murders and the Battle for the United Mine Workers of America’ just days before the 2024 Oscars.

Murphy is expected to star in and produce the film, although a director has yet to be attached to the project. Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth will team up to write the script, drawing on their collaboration on ‘Edge Of Tomorrow.’

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The forthcoming movie, based on Bradley’s 2020 book of the same name, delves into the events surrounding the 1969 murder of mining union organiser Joseph ‘Jock’ Yablonski, who, along with his wife and daughter, was tragically killed at home. Yablonski’s murder followed his efforts to expose corruption within the mining union leadership, triggering a thorough investigation into the coal industry’s shady practices.

While Yablonski, his wife, and daughter were victims of the massacre, their son Chip, who Murphy is set to portray in the film, was fortunately not present at the time. Chip subsequently dedicated his life to seeking justice and bringing the corrupt union leader to account.

Murphy recently won the Oscar for ‘Best Actor’ for his performance in ‘Oppenheimer.’ In his acceptance speech, he expressed pride in his Irish heritage and reflected on the film’s exploration of themes related to the creation of the atomic bomb.

‘Oppenheimer’ received a total of six awards at the Oscars, including ‘Best Picture’ and ‘Best Director’ for Christopher Nolan. Murphy’s return to the role of Thomas ‘Tommy’ Shelby in a ‘Peaky Blinders’ film has also been confirmed.