Two Years Later, ‘Oppenhomies’ is Still Active—And Cillian Murphy Can’t Believe It!

It’s been two years since Oppenheimer captivated audiences and earned a Best Picture Oscar, but for the star-studded cast, the bond forged during filming is still going strong. The cast’s group chat, affectionately dubbed “Oppenhomies,” is as lively as ever, much to the surprise of actor Jack Quaid.

Quaid, who played physicist Richard Feynman in the 2023 hit, shared in a recent Men’s Health interview that the group text is still “active” and that the cast members continue to support each other in their respective careers. “The Oppenhomies text chain is still active,” Quaid revealed, laughing at the longevity of the chat. “It’s funny, the longevity of that is so insane.”

The Scream star, son of Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, admitted that he never expected the group chat to endure for so long, given how large the ensemble cast was. “I never expected that to have the legs it did, because there’s so many of us,” Quaid said. “But maybe that’s the reason why. There’s an actor in that movie named Olli Haaskivi—I hang out with him all the time. He lives in New York, and he’s become one of best friends, truly.”

Quaid’s sentiments echo those of his co-star Cillian Murphy, who has expressed his disbelief at the lasting bond the group has formed. Murphy recently reflected on the Oppenhomies connection during his 2024 SAG Awards acceptance speech, attributing the creation of the moniker to Olivia Thirlby. “That was actually invented by the great Olivia Thirlby,” Murphy said, suggesting that she should “trademark that and start merching the s— out of it because someone else will.”

The camaraderie among the Oppenheimer cast members has been one of the standout aspects of their experience working on Christopher Nolan’s film. Quaid, whose role as Feynman included a scene where he played the bongos at a Christmas party, recalled an especially memorable moment during filming. “I’m playing the bongos, and more of a glorified extra in that, but looking around the room, not caring about the size of my role at all,” he recalled. “Just looking around and getting to see, like, OK, there’s Kenneth Branagh, there’s Emily Blunt, there’s Cillian Murphy, there’s Matt Damon—and they’re all doing, like, the best work of their career, and I just get to watch it. It was unbelievable.”

The surreal experience didn’t stop there. Quaid also shared a lighthearted moment where Nolan, after watching the dailies of the bongo scene, complimented his performance. “Chris stops everything, and just looks at me, and goes [Nolan impersonation] ‘I saw the dailies for the bongos—you really impressed me.’” Quaid admitted, “I just never in a million years thought I would get a bongo compliment from Christopher Nolan.”

For the Oppenhomies, the lasting friendship that has blossomed from the film set is something special. Quaid, who never expected the group chat to endure, finds joy in the ongoing conversations and mutual support that continue to flow in the cast’s virtual space.

Reflecting on the group’s bond, Murphy offered a heartfelt tribute during his acceptance speech: “They were the greatest group of actors I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. I have never felt so looked after or cared for by a group of actors every day.”

The Oppenheimer cast may have wrapped their roles on the film, but their connection remains stronger than ever. The “Oppenhomies” are living proof that the magic of a shared experience can last long after the credits roll.