“I’m So Heartbroken It’s Finished”: Cillian Murphy Reveals Succession Left Him Reeling—Even During His Oppenheimer Triumph

At the height of his career, with Oppenheimer racking up nominations and Oscar buzz in early 2024, Cillian Murphy let slip a vulnerable truth that made fans love him even more: he was absolutely devastated by the end of Succession. The HBO powerhouse series may have bowed out at its peak, but for Murphy, its absence still lingers like a fresh bruise on the heart.

In an interview with Variety during the Oppenheimer press tour, Murphy dropped the kind of confession that only makes sense coming from someone as intensely connected to performance and storytelling as he is. “I met some of the guys from Succession. That’s my favorite show on the telly. I’m so heartbroken that it’s finished,” he said, visibly moved. The moment he referred to happened at the 2024 Golden Globes—a red carpet convergence of two prestige powerhouses: Oppenheimer rising, Succession saying farewell.

Murphy, often hailed for his enigmatic intensity, found himself suddenly starstruck—not by royalty, not by directors, but by television’s most dysfunctional family. He didn’t name-drop, but fans speculate he might’ve crossed paths with Jeremy Strong or Kieran Culkin, and the brief encounter left a lasting impression. It was a rare and relatable glimpse into the actor’s personal tastes—turns out even the master of subtle anguish and cinematic depth watches TV like the rest of us: fully invested.

It’s hardly surprising, though. Murphy’s own body of work—from Peaky Blinders to his collaborations with Christopher Nolan—proves he’s deeply drawn to character studies drenched in emotional turmoil and complex ambition. Succession, with its biting dialogue, volatile relationships, and corporate chess games, was practically engineered to enthrall someone like him.

And yet, his heartbreak reflects a broader truth: Succession didn’t just end. It ended well. Jesse Armstrong’s choice to call it after four explosive seasons was bold, rare, and right. There was no drag, no diluted arcs—just razor-sharp storytelling, culminating in a final season that left viewers stunned and satisfied. Logan Roy’s death in episode three reshuffled the entire deck, exposing the true fragility of the Roy children’s ambitions.

In the finale, no one truly won. Tom Wambsgans was crowned CEO, but only by Shiv’s bitter grace. Kendall shattered beneath the weight of his delusion. Roman walked away bruised, but free. The ending wasn’t clean, but it was honest—and that’s exactly what Cillian Murphy seems to cherish most.

For Murphy, who has built a career portraying men whose unraveling is as essential as their rise, Succession‘s ending hit all the right notes. Just as Oppenheimer faced the moral consequences of brilliance, and Tommy Shelby collapsed under the empire he built, the Roys faced the void left by their father—and found no one truly ready to fill it.

Over a year later, Succession still echoes in pop culture. Quotes linger, memes circulate, rewatches unfold with new meaning. And if you’re still processing the end, take heart—so is Cillian Murphy. Because in a world of prestige, there’s something special about watching another master of craft become a fan, too.