Is Cillian Murphy the next James Bond?

“Who will be the next James Bond?” The question that devoted fans are desperately seeking an answer to, but all they get are some rumors, whose legitimacy is questionable.  Beloved actor Cillian Murphy has all eyes on him now, following his great performance in Oppenheimer and his well-deserved Oscar victory a few days ago. Even he has been the focus of 007 rumors recently, and it’s hard to determine if his next role would really be that of James Bond. 

Nevertheless, as per recent reports by the Sun, it’s known that he stands in contention for the role with many other top candidates, such as Aaron Taylor Johnson, Regé-Jean Page, Henry Cavill, Paul Mescal, and more. As of now, there are no updates on the 26th Bond movie, and the casting choice hasn’t been confirmed either, but it would be fun to see who comes out on top to play a beloved spy character. Now, without further ado, let’s explain what this Cillian Murphy James Bond rumor is all about.

Cillian Murphy as James Bond: Is It Really Possible?

Daniel Craig played 007 for over a decade, spanning five installments, with the final one being No Time to Die (2021), where he officially bid adieu to the franchise. The reason behind his exit was that he couldn’t handle the physical demands of the role and also suffered quite horrific injuries. His character story came to a close with the unthinkable ending of the titular character being killed off for the first time. Although the iconic actor has moved on, it doesn’t mean the end of the franchise, as a 26th Bond movie is said to be in the works. A new actor will be stepping into the role and offering a fresh take on the character. Who would be this actor still remains a big “QUESTION MARK.”.

Cillian Murphy’s acting range is totally outstanding. Give him the most difficult characters to play, and he will simply nail it. In short, he always understands the assignment. For many years, he has been an underrated actor, who, with every single project, has shown his versatility. Whether it be playing a trans-woman in Breakfast on Pluto or a badass gangster, like Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders, with every project, he demonstrated why he is one of the best actors on the planet currently. Oppenheimer added more shine to his already stellar resume, giving him the recognition and honor, that he deserved for a long time. However, this positive recognition has also caught the attention of makers, who are on a hunt for their next James Bond. The source states:

"Cillian is the toast of Hollywood right now and this would be the ultimate role. This is a way to elevate the Bond franchise with an actor who is at the very top of his game."

Firstly, let's get to know the criteria or requirements that have been laid out by 007 producer Barbara Broccoli. Earlier, a few reports suggested that the makers were looking for younger actors to play the secret service agent. However, they have ruled out this age requirement, as they now want an actor who is “30 or something." Other criteria also include the actor being British, being a male, and being able to commit to the role for at least 15 years (via Variety).

As far as Murphy is concerned, he is now 47 years old and an Irishman, which might not fit the criteria. But looking back at his roles, his charming and youthful appearance, magnificent acting range, and his ability to perfect accents (think Brummie accent in the BBC series Peaky Blinders) certainly make him a great fit for the role. Speaking of the commitment part, it’s a bit hard to comment on it, as 15 years is a very long term, and we have no idea where Murphy’s personal work priorities stand right now.

However, he did share his opinion on playing James Bond in a recent interview with Deadline. He said, "I think I'm a bit old for that." Although Murphy might think his age factor might be a problem for the role, James Bond alum Pierce Brosnan and Oppenheimer star Clay Bunker have shown support for Murphy's 007 casting.

Look at their comments below:

" Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond."

- Pierce Brosnan (Former 007)

"It’s funny because he (Cillian Murphy) is the nicest human and has that dark side. There is a darkness to Bond. We forget that sometimes Bond is like the character that Fleming created – a pretty dark character. He just happens to be on the side that we call good. Cillian has that ability to tap into that."

- Clay Bunker (Oppenheimer star)

No matter if he picks up to play James Bond or not, devoted fans would still love to know where he will be starring next and will be all set to attend the theaters to watch it.