Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has voiced his endorsement for Oppenheimer star Cillian Murphy to take up the mantle of the iconic spy in future 007 films.
Speaking at the Oscar Wilde Awards in Los Angeles, Brosnan shared his opinion when asked about who he believes should succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond.
“Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond on His Majesty’s Secret Service,” Brosnan remarked, highlighting Murphy’s suitability for the role.
Pierce Brosnan, known for his portrayal of the suave secret agent from 1995 to 2002 in films like GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day, passed the baton to Craig, who depicted Bond in five movies from 2006 to 2021.
Like Brosnan, Cillian Murphy is also of Irish descent. He has garnered acclaim for his diverse roles like Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders. His star rose considerably following his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in the Oscar contender Oppenheimer. The actor is widely regarded as a frontrunner for the Best Actor Oscar at the upcoming awards ceremony, having already secured the BAFTA, Golden Globe, and SAG awards this season.
In recent years, speculation has been rife about who will take on the role of 007 next, with names like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Regé-Jean Page, and Henry Cavill among those circulating in discussions. However, no official announcements have been made regarding Daniel Craig’s successor.
Murphy’s packed schedule includes the premiere of his latest film, Small Things Like These, at the Berlin Film Festival last month. With Brosnan’s endorsement adding fuel to the speculation, fans eagerly await any developments regarding the next James Bond, with Murphy emerging as a strong contender should Brosnan’s prediction come to fruition.