8 Ensemble Casting Choices For Next James Bond Movie
2. Cillian Murphy As The Primary Villain
Cillian Murphy has spent nearly two decades honing his craft and has proved countless times he can play any role put in front of him. There have been calls for the dashing Irishman to be Bond himself. However, with Murphy turning 45 next year, he may be a little too old to step into 007’s Oxfords. However, as a ruthless villain, Murphy would be allowed to shine.
Many forget that Murphy is a compelling and terrifying villain, especially since his award-winning role as anti-hero Tommy Shelby in the incredible Peaky Blinders. However, his role in Red Eye, where he plays a calm, stalking terrorist who has cornered his victim aboard an overnight flight, as well as his terrifying portrayal as Scarecrow in the Dark Knight Trilogy, proves he has the chops for villainy. Besides, even in Peaky Blinders, Tommy spends half the show menacing and intimidating those around him.
Murphy’s finest assets for a villainous role are his facial expressions. Whilst showing defined handsomeness on the surface, Murphy’s eyes can quickly become unsettling and hate-filled, as can a simple snarl of his lips. For a villain with a close background to Bond, perhaps a former partner akin to Goldeneye who has been brainwashed by the Russians (it’s always the Russians in Bond), Murphy would be, sorry for this, blindingly good.