The ex-007’s comments are sure to magnify the current casting rumours.
Pierce Brosnan, who starred in four films as secret agent James Bond, has said that his fellow countryman Cillian Murphy would be “magnificent” at playing the character.
Since Daniel Craig retired from the franchise following the release of 2021 movie No Time to Die, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive regarding who will take over as the character.
Actors suggested as potential successors include Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Henry Cavill, Henry Golding, Idris Elba, Jack Lowden, James Norton, Jamie Dornan, John Boyega, Paapa Essiedu, Paul Mescal, Regé-Jean Page, Richard Madden and Tom Hardy.
Also in the conversation is Murphy, with the chances of him getting cast in the role perhaps being increased with the success of his blockbuster Oppenheimer.
A report this week from The Sun quoted an unnamed source as saying: “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.”
And now former Bond star Brosnan has weighed in on the rumours.
Appearing at the annual Oscar Wilde awards, which celebrate Irish creative talent in Los Angeles, the GoldenEye actor told the BBC: “Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond on His Majesty’s Secret Service.”
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Also at the event was Murphy, meanwhile, who revealed he had not heard the Bond rumours himself.
The Oppenheimer star is the favourite to take home the Best Actor Oscar this weekend for his role in the Christopher Nolan epic historical thriller.
His competitors in the category are Paul Giamatti (The Holdovers), Bradley Cooper (Maestro), Colman Domingo (Rustin) and Jeffrey Wright (American Fiction).
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