Getty Images/Everett Collection
James Woods recently told Megyn Kelly on SiriusXM Radio that he was “gently” asked not to promote Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. Woods served as executive producer on the film after buying the rights to the non-fiction book that Nolan based his screenplay on (American Prometheus, by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin). The film became a cultural smash hit, grossing $975 million worldwide (the highest grossing biopic of all time) and winning multiple Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor.
“When Oppenheimer came out, there was a discussion about my Twitter and it was gently suggested that I basically remain invisible, which was painful,” Woods said, arguing that her long-standing and open support of Donald Trump posed a risk to the release of Oppenheimer and her awards campaign.
“On the one hand, I’m a practical person, and I thought there were a lot of people invested in this,” Woods continued, “so I’m just going to be an invisible pariah, because the people who vote for the Oscars are so important to film because they contribute to the financial rewards and the everlasting historical record, and I don’t want to take anything away from them.”
Woods explained that he didn’t want the Oppenheimer team to be in a situation where they had to deal with “crazy people” who would suddenly show up and lie about him and his conservative views. (He added, “I’ve heard that story a million times, and it’s all a lie.”)
“I didn’t want that to happen and for some clickbait story to be written that says, ‘We’re not going to see that movie because James Woods is an executive producer!'” Woods said. “So I stepped aside and sacrificed for my team. I wasn’t even invited to the Producers Guild of America Awards, even though I’m a producer.”
“Oppenheimer” won top honors from the Producers Guild of America Awards, as well as the Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, BAFTA Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards, and Academy Awards. Woods, an executive producer, was not included in the film’s Academy Award nominations and Best Picture win. Top awards went to principal producers Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, and Charles Roven.
Woods has largely stayed away from Hollywood, saying his agent dropped him several years ago over his support for Trump. The actor last appeared in two episodes of Andrew Dice Clay’s short-lived sitcom “Dice” in 2017.
Watch Woods’ appearance on Megyn Kelly’s show below.