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Cillian Murphy appears in first look at new historical drama produced by Oppenheimer co-star Matt Damon and Ben Affleck

News
By Emily Garbutt published 18 January 2024

Small Things Like These is set in '80s Ireland

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Cillian Murphy in Small Things Like These
(Image credit: Shane O'Connor/Artists Equity/Big Things Films)
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The first look at Cillian Murphy's next movie, Small Things Like These, is here. As well as starring, Murphy is also producing, along with his Oppenheimer co-star Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck is on board as executive producer. 

Per the official synopsis, "the story takes place over Christmas in 1985 when devoted father Bill Furlong (Murphy) discovers the startling secrets being kept by the convent in his town, and some shocking truths about his own life as well."

The film will revolve around Ireland’s Magdalene laundries, asylums run by the Catholic Church in the 19th and 20th Centuries to house so-called "fallen women". An estimated 30,000 women were confined in these institutions, the last of which closed as late as 1996. Tim Mielants directed the movie, which will see him re-team with Murphy after he helmed multiple episodes of Peaky Blinders. The cast also includes Game of Thrones' Michelle Fairley and Punch-Drunk Love's Emily Watson.

Small Things Like This is based on the novel of the same name by Claire Keegan, who also wrote Foster, the book that was adapted into the Oscar-nominated Irish-language film The Quiet Girl. The film will premiere at Berlin Film Festival, opening this year's festival.

Murphy is currently getting Oscar buzz for his leading role in Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan's movie about the advent of the atomic bomb. So far, he's won a Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award for his performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer, as well as being nominated for a BAFTA.  

While we wait for Small Things Like These to arrive on the big screen, check out our guide to the other best upcoming movies on the way in 2024. 

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Emily Garbutt
Emily Garbutt
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Entertainment Writer

I’m an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering everything film and TV-related. I help bring you all the latest news, features, and reviews, as well as helming our Big Screen Spotlight column. I’ve previously written for publications like HuffPost and i-D after getting my NCTJ Diploma in Multimedia Journalism.

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