Ever since the Bond franchise producers released their final casting announcement, the identity of the next 007 has been a hot topic in the film industry. According to a source, a theater colleague of Josh O'Connor accidentally revealed that the British actor has already been confirmed for the role.
In October, O'Connor starred in the play Golden Boy at the Almeida Theatre in London. Last Wednesday night, a journalist's source met one of the play's actors at The French House pub in Soho, London, who claimed to be a friend of Josh's.
According to him, tourists recognized him and asked for photos. Their conversation was purely coincidental.
"I ran into one of Josh's co-stars at a French restaurant in London. We happened to strike up a conversation in the corner. After a few beers, he suddenly blurted out that Josh would be the next James Bond."
Sources responded that it was merely speculation, but he didn't give up. According to him, O'Connor personally confessed to colleagues after the theater company's Halloween performance celebrations that he had secured the role.
"I was surprised he spoke about it so openly. But he's clearly very proud of Josh and confident about how the Bond role will impact Josh's acting career."
O'Connor is considered the most surprising choice among many popular candidates. Other contenders include Jack Lowden, who starred in Slow Horses, and Callum Turner, the lead in Masters of the Air. Bookmakers offered odds of 12-to-1 on O'Connor, whose name has been linked to the Bond role for over a year.
O'Connor's predecessor as 007 is also considered a fan of hers. Daniel Craig's latest Bond film, No Time to Die, was released in 2021, and he insisted on casting O'Connor in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery, which was released last year.The film's director, Rian Johnson, admitted he hadn't known O'Connor before. He said Craig recommended the actor to him.
"He was an unexpected discovery for me, as I wasn't familiar with his work before. Daniel recommended him to me. Daniel got to know him through Luca Guadagnino, who directed The Pretenders. After watching The Pretenders, I thought, 'My god, this guy is practically jumping off the screen.' Later, I watched Chimera and found he demonstrated powerful acting skills again, but in a completely different style.
I think he's a very special actor. After meeting him, I knew I wanted to work with him. He's kind and a genuinely good person. We were incredibly lucky to have him back then; I'm not sure we could afford him now, as he's become a top-tier actor."
If O'Connor ultimately secures the role, he will be 37 years old when filming begins next year. Craig was the same age when he filmed his debut, Casino Royale, in 2006.
Earlier this week, O'Connor himself broke his silence for the first time, responding to these rumors.
"Just being mentioned in the same breath is extraordinary. Hearing that, and realizing I was even being considered for such a role, felt incredible—so much so that you'd have to pinch yourself."
But I'm afraid I have nothing more to say."
Reportedly, the final auditions took place over the weekend of October 24 at Bray Studios in Berkshire. The actors completed their auditions under the direction of Denis Villeneuve. The creator of the Dune series was announced last summer as the director of the new film, promising fans he would maintain the franchise's consistently high quality.
Amazon and MGM Studios have yet to release any official statement or set a timeline for their decision. Amy Pascal, the director and producer of the new film, believes fans will know the identity of the new Bond before 2027.
Production on the film is scheduled to begin in 2027, with an expected release in 2028-2029.
