, March 9 -- Former James Bond star Pierce Brosnan has stated that fellow Irishman and Oscar contender Cillian Murphy would make a "magnificent" 007.

"Cillian would do a magnificent job as James Bond on His Majesty's Secret Service," Brosnan told the BBC.

According to reports, Murphy might be in the running; however there have always been whispers about who could play Bond next.

Brosnan was speaking at the annual Oscar Wilde Awards in Los Angeles, which honour Irish creative brilliance, reports BBC.

Murphy is expected to win best actor at the 96th Academy Awards on Sunday for his portrayal in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.

He stated that he had not heard the Bond speculations and that he had not given any attention to perhaps winni...