Cillian Murphy has reportedly joined the running to take over as James Bond from Daniel Craig.
The actor, 47, has won acclaim for his lead role in blockbuster Oppenheimer and is the hot favourite to win Best Actor at the Oscars on Sunday.
According to The Sun, his performance in the film has caught the eye of Bond bosses who are still on the hunt for Daniel’s replacement.
A source said: ‘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.’
Cillian Murphy has reportedly joined the running to take over as James Bond from Daniel Craig
A source said: ‘Cillian is the toast of Hollywood right now and this would be the ultimate role’ (Daniel Craig pictured as James Bond)
James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli is said to have been keeping a close eye on Cillian over the last year.
However there is still plenty of time to decide as work on the 26th Bond film will reportedly not begin until late next year.
Cillian’s Oppenheimer co-star Clay Bunker has backed the idea of the Irish actor taking over as 007.
He said: ‘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 [Ian] 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.’
Daniel starred in five Bond films; Casino Royale was his first in 2005 and No Time To Die his last in 2021.
It comes after Cillian paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife and sons as he won the Best Actor BAFTA for his role in Oppenheimer last month.
The actor has won acclaim for his lead role in blockbuster Oppenheimer and is the hot favourite to win Best Actor at the Oscars on Sunday
The star, who plays the titular role in Christopher Nolan’s atomic bomb saga, picked up the prize at the star-studded London’s Royal Festival Hall ceremony.
Presented with the trophy by Cate Blanchett, he paid tribute to wife of 20-years Yvonne McGuinness as well as sons Malachy, 18, and Aran, 16, who is also an actor.
He said: ‘To Yvonne, Malachy and Aran you are my best friend and I love you so much’.
Cillian triumphed over Bradley Cooper for Maestro, Colman Domingo for Rustin, Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers, Barry Keoghan for Saltburn and Teo Yoo for Past Lives.
Accepting the trophy he said: ‘Oh boy, holy moly, thank you very, very much BAFTA.’
It comes after Cillian paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife and sons as he won the Best Actor BAFTA for his role in Oppenheimer last month
The Irish actor picked up the prize at the star-studded London’s Royal Festival Hall ceremony (Pictured with wife Yvonne McGuinness in 2006)
He also paid tribute to ‘the most dynamic, kindest producer-director partnership in Hollywood: Chris Nolan and Emma Thomas, thank you for seeing something in me that I probably didn’t see in myself.’
Cillian said to Nolan: ‘Thank for always pushing me and demanding excellence because that is what you deliver time and time again.’
He also acknowledged his ‘fellow nominees and my Oppenhomies’, adding: ‘I know it’s a cliche to say, but I’m in awe of you.’
Cillian described J Robert Oppenheimer, known as the father of the atomic bomb, was a ‘colossally knotty character’, adding: ‘We have a space to debate and interrogate and investigate that complexity and it’s a privilege to be a part of this community with you all.’
