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- Scottish Sun
Huge Irish actor emerges as James Bond villain frontrunner as race to crown new 007 heats up
Scroll to find out all the leading men in the running for the coveted role
STIRRING UP BOND Huge Irish actor emerges as James Bond villain frontrunner as race to crown new 007 heats up
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A HUGE Irish actor has today emerged as the frontrunner to play the next James Bond villain.
Ever since Daniel Craig left the famous franchise the rumour mill has been whirring as to who will take on the iconic 007 gig - but now fans want to know who will play the next Bond baddie.
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Fans are keen to know who will be the next James Bond after Daniel Craig quit - but who will play his nemesis?
Credit: Alamy
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Irish star Cillian Murphey is being tipped to bag the iconic Bond villain role in the next movie
Credit: Getty
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The actor is best known for playing Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders
Credit: BBC
Now, an actor who was previously in the running to play James Bond, is being tipped to now play the iconic villain role.
According to the bookies Peaky Blinders actor Cillian Murphy is the current favourite to be named as the next 007 baddie.
He is leading the pack with odds of 9/2.
The Irish actor - best known for playing Thomas Shelby - previously said he was "too old" to play the famous spy.
But thanks to being at the peak of his career, the Oppenheimer star could be the next Bond villian.
Bookmaker expert Jake Ashton said: 'The villain role in Bond movies is just as iconic as Bond himself.
"With Cillian Murphy at the height of his powers and trusted by major directors, he's a natural favourite.'
RACE FOR BOND
Meanwhile, the race for James Bond is heating up.
Stars including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Theo James, Henry Cavill, and Tom Hardy, have all been strongly tipped to replace Daniel Craig as the Secret Service agent.
The Sun exclusively told how Aaron had been formally offered the role of the Brit spy last year.
Brit acting legend admits he wants to play James Bond saying 'the world's gone crazy' if Amazon casts a US star for 007
This came after we first reported the Marvel movie star had emerged as a surprise frontrunner three years ago.
The Sun previously revealed the handsome actor was in the running for the job after secretly screen testing for Bond movie supremo Barbara Broccoli at Pinewood Studios.
A source previously told us: 'Bond is Aaron's job, should he wish to accept it.
"The formal offer is on the table and they are waiting to hear back."
When asked previously whether he would step into Bond's shoes, Aaron said: 'I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role.
"I take it as a great compliment.'
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Marvel actor Aaron Taylor Johnson has long been a frontrunner for the prestigious film role
Credit: Getty
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Daniel played MI6's most famous spy for 15 years
Credit: Alamy
BRIT BOND
It's also been confirmed that Bond will still be a British man despite being sold to 'woke' Hollywood streaming site Amazon.
Before giving up ownership of the popular film franchise, 007's stewards Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson insisted the spy would retain his nationality and gender.
Barbara, who took over the Bond brand from company Eon Productions alongside Mr Wilson in 1995, made the arrangement before she agreed to sell the rights to Amazon in a £770million deal.
Insiders have hit back at fears the streaming giant - owned by Jeff Bezos - will turn Bond 'woke'.
An insider told the Mail on Sunday: 'Amazon is committed to keeping the spirit of Bond alive and that means he has to be British or from the Commonwealth - and he has to be male.'
Half-siblings Barbara and Michael took over the Bond franchise from their father and stepfather Albert "Cubby" Broccoli - who bought the film rights from Bond creator Ian Fleming in 1961.
Since then there have been 25 movies - where Bond defeats villains bent on destruction, all while drinking martinis and seducing women.
