Josh O'Connor Calls Bond Speculation a "Pinch Me Moment"

Josh O'Connor has described the idea of playing James Bond as "an incredibly bizarre pinch me moment," according to Variety, which reported his remarks on 3 November 2026.

The actor, best known for his work in film and television, has become one of the names linked to the next Bond film. Speaking to the BBC, he said he was "very honored" to have his name in contention. He stopped short of saying more, telling reporters there was "nothing to say beyond that."

Variety also reports that O'Connor is among the finalists for the role, going through final screen tests alongside Jack Lowden and Callum Turner. The BBC had earlier reported that the final tests were set to take place over a weekend. Neither the studio nor the production has confirmed a casting decision, and no role has been formally offered.

Lowden took a similar line. He told British GQ that the speculation was "all very flattering," but that he was not "going to add to the noise." Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi, Paul Mescal, Harris Dickinson and James Norton were also linked to the part earlier in the process.

The film will be the 26th in the official Bond series, which began in 1962 with Dr. No. Amazon MGM Studios took over creative control of the franchise in 2025, meaning it now has the final say on the films, from the people who make them to the stories they tell. The studio had previously been run by the Bond family's producers, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.

The new production has its team in place. Denis Villeneuve is set to direct, working from a screenplay by Steven Knight. Amy Pascal and David Heyman will produce, and casting director Nina Gold is leading the search for the next 007.

For fans following the process, the most concrete signal is the screen tests. Each finalist's name has now been tied to a specific stage of the search, which is a step beyond the earlier round of speculation. Until the studio names a choice, though, the list stays a list.