A Bond Endorsement From 007 Royalty: Pierce Brosnan Tipped Tom Ellis For James Bond, But Is The Lucifer Star Now Too Old?

Imagine this scene: you're on a film set, working alongside an absolute legend, and suddenly, they drop a massive compliment your way. That's precisely what happened to Tom Ellis, known globally for his devilish charm in Lucifer, when he was filming The Thursday Murder Club with none other than Pierce Brosnan, a man who knows a thing or two about being James Bond.

According to Ellis himself, Brosnan, who embodied 007 with such effortless style across four films, leaned over and simply told him he'd "make a good Bond." Now, that's not just any compliment, is it? It's praise from a seasoned professional, someone who has walked in those very iconic shoes. It must have been quite the moment! However, as Ellis recently shared with Metro, while deeply flattered, he also admitted, quite candidly, that he feels he's "probably too old now" at 47. It's a valid point, perhaps, given the demanding physical nature of the role and the potential for a multi-film commitment. But then again, he's a tall, imposing presence at 6 feet 3.5 inches and no stranger to action-oriented roles, so you have to wonder.

This little anecdote isn't just a one-off piece of idle chat; it adds another intriguing layer to the ongoing, fervent speculation surrounding who will be the next Commander Bond. Brosnan, it seems, isn't shy about sharing his opinions on the matter. He's also previously championed Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy as a strong contender, and even suggested that the producers might "go left-field" with their final choice. He's not alone in that thinking, mind you. The Bond franchise, after all, has a knack for surprising us.

And speaking of whispers and walk-backs, even Hollywood heavyweight Gary Oldman initially claimed the new 007 had already been cast, rooting for Jack Lowden, only to retract his statements later. It just goes to show how much smoke there is around this particular fire! What we do know for certain is that Bond 26 is moving forward under the direction of the acclaimed Denis Villeneuve, with a screenplay being penned by Steven Knight for Amazon MGM. Producer Amy Pascal has also confirmed that serious work on the film is slated to begin "closer to the end of the year."

So, as the world eagerly awaits the unveiling of the next actor to utter that immortal line, "Bond, James Bond," it's fascinating to see which names continue to surface. From Cillian Murphy to Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi to Jack Lowden, and now, thanks to Brosnan's personal endorsement, Tom Ellis too. The speculation is a huge part of the fun, really, isn't it? But for now, the secret of who will lead 007's next adventure remains very much under wraps.