Cillian Murphy dedicated significant effort to preparing for his role in Sunshine, working closely with renowned physicist Brian Cox to deepen his understanding of advanced physics concepts. Their collaboration included a tour of the CERN facility in Switzerland, where Murphy gained firsthand insight into particle physics and the scientific environment that underpins the film’s plot. During this process, Murphy also studied the mannerisms and behaviors of physicists, aiming to authentically portray their demeanor on screen. Interestingly, he ended up mimicking some of Brian Cox’s personal idiosyncrasies, such as his frequent hand movements, to add realism to his performance.
In addition to scientific research, Murphy explored classic cinema to better grasp the tone and suspense Danny Boyle sought to evoke. He studied Henri-Georges Clouzot’s 1953 film The Wages of Fear, which masterfully builds tension through its storytelling and cinematography. This helped Murphy understand the kind of psychological and physical suspense that Boyle wanted to portray in Sunshine.
Furthermore, Murphy has shared that his involvement in Sunshine profoundly impacted his personal beliefs. He claims that working on the film shifted his worldview from agnosticism to atheism, suggesting that the themes of existentialism and human resilience explored in the movie resonated deeply with him.
