One of the frontrunners to become the next James Bond has reportedly turned down the coveted role, throwing the increasingly unpredictable race to replace Daniel Craig into further chaos.
Josh O’Connor, 36, has been heavily linked with the iconic British spy in recent weeks, with rumours even suggesting he had secretly landed the part.
However, the Challengers star is now said to have removed himself from contention, having previously revealed plans to take an extended break from acting in 2027.
A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Josh has turned down the Bond role.’
The reported decision comes just days after the actor addressed the relentless speculation himself, casting doubt on whether he would be slipping into 007’s famous tuxedo.
Asked about the possibility of becoming Bond at a screening of the National Theatre production Golden Boy, he replied: ‘No, no, no. We’ll see but I doubt it.’
He also revealed that although he has a project scheduled for January, he intends to take some time away from work afterwards.
Given that production on the next Bond film is expected to begin in 2027, those plans would appear difficult to reconcile with the considerable commitment required of the franchise’s new leading man.
Still, O’Connor admitted that being mentioned alongside some of Britain’s most sought-after actors was an extraordinary experience, describing the attention as a surreal career milestone.
The Crown actor’s apparent withdrawal is particularly surprising given that, just last week, reports emerged that he had already secured the part.
According to the claims, one of his Golden Boy castmates supposedly let slip that O’Connor had landed the role during a night out in Soho following the production’s final performance.
The alleged revelation came after auditions for the next Bond reportedly entered their final stages in October, with O’Connor believed to be competing against Callum Turner and Jack Lowden.
Now, however, the field appears to be shifting once again.
Turner, 36, remains a strong contender and is currently the bookmakers’ favourite, with William Hill pricing him at 11/10.
The actor, who is married to pop superstar Dua Lipa, recently returned to New York to film romantic comedy One Night Only after reportedly travelling to Britain for a Bond screen test at Bray Studios in Berkshire.
He was also spotted filming a commercial for Johnnie Walker whisky on Sunday, swapping Bond’s traditional shaken-not-stirred martini for a rather different drink.
Meanwhile, Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have emerged as late contenders, with both actors reportedly having auditioned for director Denis Villeneuve.
Pattinson, 40, has seen his odds dramatically shortened from 16/1 to 3/1, according to William Hill, putting the Batman star firmly among the favourites.
Those odds were published before O’Connor’s reported withdrawal, with the actor still listed at 5/2.
The ongoing speculation has become something of a spectacle in its own right, with seemingly every British actor of a certain age being linked to the role since Craig’s final appearance in 2021’s No Time to Die.
Even Villeneuve couldn’t resist poking fun at the endless guessing game while accepting an honour at the LACMA Art and Film Gala in Los Angeles earlier this month.
The Dune director jokingly announced that he was about to reveal the identity of the next Bond, before stopping himself and suggesting producer Amy Pascal might have a heart attack.
Whoever eventually receives the licence to kill will lead the first Bond film produced under Amazon MGM Studios’ full creative control, following its takeover of the franchise.
The upcoming instalment, Bond 26, will be written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, with producers reportedly hoping to settle on their leading man before the end of the year.
Despite the latest claims, Amazon has yet to officially confirm who has auditioned, been offered or rejected the role.
And with the rumour mill producing a new frontrunner seemingly every other day, it appears the only thing anyone can say with certainty is that Daniel Craig’s successor remains a closely guarded secret.