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Josh O'Connor will be the new James Bond, at least according to a rumor from the tabloid The Sun. There's no official confirmation yet. The actor—known for his role as King Charles in the series The Crown and for starring in Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, Alice Rohrwacher's Chimera, and Steven Spielberg's recent film Disclosure Day—is said to have edged out favorites Jack Lowden and Callum Turner to succeed Daniel Craig, who played the world's most beloved secret agent from 2006's Casino Royale to 2021's No Time To Die.
The backstory surrounding how the tabloid learned of the news is incredible. After the final performance of "Golden Boy," the show he starred in at London's Almeida Theatre, O'Connor reportedly went to a pub to celebrate with the rest of the cast. It was there that he revealed to those present that he had landed the part of Bond.
A few days later, one of the partygoers, after having had a few too many beers, allegedly leaked the news to a source at 'The Sun', thus revealing what fans of the saga were expecting from Craig's farewell.
“To be considered in the same category is something extraordinary,” O'Connor commented a few days ago regarding the rumors about it.
The 36-year-old called the opportunity to take on the role of cinema's most famous secret agent "an incredible moment." The comments came at the opening of the new Everyman Theatre education and community center in his hometown of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. Asked about rumors surrounding Daniel Craig's succession as 007, O'Connor added: "It's an incredibly surreal feeling, almost making you wonder if this is actually happening." The actor, however, clarified that he had no further information to share: "I'm afraid there's nothing more to say."
The next film in the saga will have to carry an important legacy. Daniel Craig played James Bond in five films over a fifteen-year period, from his debut in 'Casino Royale' in 2006 to 'No Time To Die,' released in 2021. O'Connor also shared the screen with Craig in 2025's 'Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery,' the third installment in the film series directed by Rian Johnson. In recent years, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, James Norton, and Irish actor Paul Mescal have also been linked to succeed Craig.
The next chapter in the saga is currently in development. The screenplay was written by Steven Knight, creator of the "Peaky Blinders" series, while Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce. Denis Villeneuve, who directed "Dune," has been chosen to direct.
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