In the ongoing speculation surrounding the search for the next James Bond, former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan has weighed in on who he believes should don the iconic tuxedo. Speaking at the annual Oscar Wilde Awards, Brosnan expressed his support for Academy Award-nominated actor Cillian Murphy as the ideal choice to take on the role of the enigmatic spy.

Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in four films between 1995 and 2002, including GoldenEye and Die Another Day, shared his endorsement with the BBC, stating, "Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond on His Majesty's Secret Service." The event, which celebrated Irish talent, saw Murphy in attendance, although he admitted that he had not yet heard the Bond rumors.

Currently, Cillian Murphy is earning rave reviews for his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer, which has earned him a Best Lead Actor nomination at the 2024 Academy Awards. Murphy is considered a frontrunner for the coveted award, but he remains humble, stating, "I just want to go in and have a good time." Other nominees in the category include Bradley Cooper for Maestro, Jeffrey Wright for American Fiction, Colman Domingo for Rustin, and Paul Giamatti for The Holdovers.

As speculation continues to swirl about who will succeed Daniel Craig as the next James Bond, other contenders for the role include Idris Elba, Henry Cavill, Regé-Jean Page, Charlie Cox, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Sam Heughan, among others. However, Brosnan's endorsement of Murphy adds significant weight to the Peaky Blinders actor's candidacy.

In addition to the hunt for the next Bond, there is also anticipation regarding who will helm the franchise's next installment. Christopher Nolan, known for his work on films like The Dark Knight Trilogy, has long expressed his appreciation for the Bond franchise, leading to rumors that he may be involved. However, Nolan has recently debunked these speculations, leaving the fate of the franchise's direction uncertain.

As of now, there has been no official confirmation on the eighth actor to portray Bond or any updates on the release date for the next film in the long-standing franchise. Bond fans around the world eagerly await news regarding the future of their beloved spy series.