"Oppenheimer" Cast Members, Stars And Musicians Call For Nuclear Abolition

As a massive New York Times report reveals why positive steps are so urgent today.

By Greg Mitchell, Oppenheimer and the Legacy of His Bomb

When Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” was released last July, many predicted it would spark profound and long-lasting new activism, and official measures, with the aim of reducing nuclear risks and eliminating more of the weapons, perhaps down to zero. I cast doubt on this optimism, as I found the film far too weak in its messaging and its failure to truly confront the only use of the weapons in war and provide crucial lessons for today. Sadly, beyond a great number of articles, columns, TV segments, posts and special issues, a strong new antinuclear movement has failed to materialize and positive official actions have been few and far between.

This afternoon, I was interviewed for the public radio “World” national program for a segment on “Oppenheimer” shortcomings (which I have detailed at this Substack since early last July). You can read or listen to the 8-minute segment here.

Yet, all the while, nuclear threats are only increasing, as a massive New York Times interactive report—the first of a series—started detailing this week (see more down the page a bit) It is accompanied by an intro from opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury with the headline: “It’s Time To Protest Nuclear War Again.”

As it happens, with the Oscar ceremony just three days off, and “Oppenheimer” certain to be a big winner, some Hollywood stars, musicians and others are finally uniting again against The Bomb. Some of us old enough recall similar celeb rallying in the early 1960s and 1980s.