Cillian Murphy is now a favourite to become the next James Bond after Daniel Craig’s 15-year stint as 007.
Peaky Blinders star Murphy wowed Hollywood last year in his stunning performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s film Oppenheimer, and is now believed to be movie bosses’ most-wanted man. His award-winning role, which won him a BAFTA in February has left them eager for him to take on the legendary role previously played by fellow Irish actor Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery, and Roger Moore.
The 47-year old, who started his professional acting career in 1996, performing on stages in Cork, Dublin, and London. He began appearing in films in 1997, meanwhile, and went on to gain international fame after starring in Danny Boyle’s revolutionary 28 Days Later in 2002.
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While he has always been seen as a highly talented actor, it seems that Murphy has made the biggest impression in his 40s, with his iconic roles as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders, before Oppenheimer catapulted him further into stardom, reports the Mirror.
(Image: Getty Images)
“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,” a source told The Sun.
Clay Bunker, who acted with Cillian in Oppenheimer, is cheering for the Irish star to be the next James Bond. Clay reckons Cillian’s roles as tough guy Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders and the spooky Scarecrow in Batman show he’d be a fab 007.
(Image: Getty Images Europe)
Clay explained: “He would fare beautifully. It’s funny because Cillian is the nicest human but he has that dark side and there’s a darkness to Bond. We forget that sometimes Bond is like the character Fleming created – a pretty dark character.”
This news comes after The Mirror let slip that the Irish actor quickly crushed all the Peaky Blinders fans’ hopes of a return with just six words. Last month, Cillian won a big prize for Best Lead Actor at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards. There’s been loads of gossip about another series of the super popular British gangster show, which drew in millions of fans around the world when it began in 2013.
(Image: BBC/Caryn Mandabach Productions Ltd/Tiger Aspect/Robert Viglasky)
Since it reached it climax, fans the show set in Birmingham has been crossing their fingers for more. However, when asked if he would ever consider reprising his memorable part as Tommy Shelby anytime soon in the BBC series, despite a confirmed movie, Cillian quickly closed off any chatter of a reunion with his Peaky Blinders squad.
Chatting to the media at the BAFTA Awards winners’ convention, Cillian firmly asserted that his chief focus after scooping the BAFTA for his starring role in Oppenheimer is his upcoming endeavour – absolutely unrelated to Peaky Blinders. “No. I’m concentrating on my new project,” Cillian affirmed.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
