The next James Bond may have been revealed in a very British fashion: an actor's castmate allegedly letting it slip at a pub after a few pints. Josh O'Connor has reportedly landed the role, according to an insider who spoke to The Sun.
The insider claimed to have bumped into one of O'Connor's Golden Boy castmates at The French House, where the castmate, described as 'oiled by a few glasses of lager', blurted out that O'Connor was the next 007. The insider said they dismissed it as speculation, but the castmate was 'insistent'.
O'Connor's rising profile and the race for 007
O'Connor has been mentioned in the running for Bond but was not considered a top contender by bookmakers. He has starred in a string of high-profile films, including Knives Out's Wake Up Dead Man, Challengers, and God's Own Country. The Golden Boy cast reportedly claimed he had 'confided in them about getting the role' after celebratory drinks when the play finished on Halloween.
The identity of the next Bond has been a closely guarded secret since Daniel Craig's 2021 exit, with anticipation building after writer Steven Knight teased that someone had been selected. Frontrunners like Callum Turner and Jack Lowden have been the subject of speculation, but it is O'Connor's name that has now emerged.
Lowden responds to Gary Oldman's endorsement
Gary Oldman previously sent fans into a frenzy by claiming the new Bond had been 'chosen', throwing his support behind his Slow Horses co-star Lowden. When asked about the endorsement in an interview with British GQ, Lowden appeared uncomfortable, responding, 'Oh, Christ…' before adding, 'It's all very flattering. It's nice to be mentioned – for any role – and I'm just not really going to add to the noise.'
Lowden continued: 'It's very nice, and Gary's a sweetheart – it's particularly lovely, coming from someone like him. But I don't really listen to it.'
Whishaw rules out return; fans await official word
Ben Whishaw, who played Q in three Bond films, has confirmed he will not return for the 26th instalment, which is set to be directed by Denis Villeneuve. Speaking to The Sunday Times, the 46-year-old actor said: 'The world has changed so much since the last Bond film, so you have to find what is relevant about it. I think it needs to be reinvented completely. But it's not for me to say.'
Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders, was announced last year as the scriptwriter for the upcoming film. This will be the first Bond film made since Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson handed full control of the franchise to Amazon MGM. Fans are still waiting for official confirmation from Amazon, which is expected imminently, but no announcement has been made yet.
