The race to become the next James Bond has taken another twist. Josh O’Connor is now rumoured to have already landed the role of 007, though there has been no official announcement and the claim remains unconfirmed.
The speculation comes from an unlikely source. According to a report in The Sun, one of O’Connor’s co-stars in the stage production Golden Boy claimed the actor had privately shared the news with colleagues during drinks celebrating the end of the play’s run on October 31. The account is second-hand, however, and neither Amazon MGM Studios nor the Bond producers have commented.
O’Connor Stays Quiet
O’Connor himself has played it cool. Asked about the Bond chatter, he described being mentioned alongside the role as an “incredibly bizarre ‘pinch-me moment’,” adding that there was “nothing to say beyond that.”
Best known for playing Prince Charles in The Crown and for his breakout turn in Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, O’Connor would bring a different energy to the franchise, mixing charm and intensity with real emotional depth.
A Crowded Shortlist
He is far from the only name in the mix. Recent reports said O’Connor was among several actors who screen-tested for the role, alongside Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, and even Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult. Lowden remains a favourite with bookmakers and has the backing of his Slow Horses co-star Gary Oldman.
The new film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve from a script by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing. It will mark a fresh start for the series following Daniel Craig’s exit in No Time to Die.
Until Amazon MGM makes it official, the 007 guessing game continues.