Cillian Murphy is currently wreaking havoc in Hollywood. After his fan-favorite role as Tommy Shelby, which made him a heartthrob overnight, he has delivered yet another mind-blowing (or atom-bomb-blowing!) performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer, becoming the entertainment industry’s newest hotshot — to the point where he is even being eyed to play James Bond!

Cillian Murphy on a talk show

According to recent reports by insiders, Murphy is apparently being eyed by producers who are all set to start the next Bond movie. While Murphy would be an iconic choice, no doubt, what’s surprising is the fact that he is being considered for the peerless spy role at 47 years of age while Henry Cavill was deemed too old to play Agent 007 even at the age of 40!

Cillian Murphy being eyed to be the next James Bond?

Considering how he is the currently raging hotshot in Hollywood what with his Oscar nomination for spectacular performance in Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy has also reportedly joined the long list of the worthy contenders to play James Bond.

Murphy in Oppenheimer (2023)

As per reports by The Sun, the 47-year-old actor has caught the attention of Bond bosses, with Barbara Broccoli even reported as having been keeping a “close eye” on the Peaky Blinders star for the past year. According to the insider:

“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.”

Surprisingly enough, this comes amid reports of Henry Cavill being rejected for the role yet once again. While previously, when he auditioned for it before Daniel Craig, he was deemed “too young”, this time, he is apparently “too old” despite having turned 40 last year.

Henry Cavill in The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

Martin Campbell, the filmmaker who has helmed one too many Bond films, shared in an interview with the Daily Express how Craig was too old for the role by the time No Time to Die was done. He further added how the actors sign for 3 Bond films (“I’m not absolutely 100 percent certain of that”) before adding:

“So that’s going to take, what, six years of your life maybe? I suspect Daniel [had] the same deal. And the next guy’s going to have to do that. Henry’s 40, so by the time he’s done the third one he’s going to be 50 and anything beyond that’s two, three years per Bond. He’s in good shape Henry, he’s a good guy. He did very well in the audition, but ironically he was too young.”

If these reports are indeed true, it would be truly unfair for Cavill, who has been longing to get cast in a Bond movie for so long. At the same time, seeing Murphy in that role would be nothing short of iconic, as actor Clay Bunker seems to admit.

Clay Bunker feels Cillian Murphy would “fare beautifully” as Bond

According to further coverage by The Sun, Clay Bunker believes Murphy could absolutely nail the role as the next Bond. The reason behind this? He feels the Oppenheimer star could perfectly embody the dark side of Agent 007. As he is reported to have 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 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.”

Murphy in Peaky Blinders

Continuing, he cited all of Murphy’s dark and broody roles, including that of Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders and the Scarecrow in The Dark Knight Trilogy, further emphasizing how it would help him effortlessly carry out the role. He said:

“But he himself has goodness. He’s got a focus thing, which is very James Bond as well. When he’s on a mission, he can do it. Cillian has tapp­ed into all that. He can do anything.”

While fans do feel bad for Henry Cavill not getting the chance, these points make it all the more possible to imagine just how immaculately Cillian Murphy could embody James Bond in the next Bond film if he gets cast in the role.