Josh O’Connor Calls Bond Speculation “Incredibly Bizarre Pinch Me Moment”

Josh O’Connor is the latest star to play coy on the reports — including those from The Hollywood Reporter — that he is in the running for the role of James Bond.

The Crown, Knives Out and Challengers actor was said to be screen-testing to replace Daniel Craig as Ian Fleming’s iconic MI6 agent. Among the small group of actors also in contention are Callum Turner and Jack Lowden. The Scottish Slow Horses star weighed in just this week on the speculation, telling British GQ: “Oh, Christ… 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.”

The 36-year-old O’Connor, who also led Steven Spielberg’s Disclosure Day earlier this year, was opening the new Everyman Theatre in his hometown of Cheltenham, England, on Tuesday. He was probed about the Bond reports and admitted: “To be considered in that same sort of bracket is extraordinary.”

He described the news as “such an incredibly bizarre pinch me moment… even being uttered in that same sentence and being considered for something like that. But I am afraid,” he continued, “there is nothing to say beyond that.”

Toward the end of October, THR heard word that screen tests for Amazon MGM Studios’ James Bond film, directed by Dune‘s Denis Villeneuve and written by Peaky Blinders mastermind Steven Knight, would be taking place in London imminently.

While Jack O’Connell, star of Sinners and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, was rumored to be in the mix, sources confirmed this is not the case. Euphoria alum Jacob Elordi is also not testing.

Also on Friday, in a new interview with Vanity Fair, former Bond himself Pierce Brosnan weighed in on the debate. “Oh, I’m just an audience member now,” he said. “I’m just the man in the street who is eager to see who is going to play this epic role of cinematic history.”

The MobLand actor did say he admired all of the actors on the proposed list, but shouted out his Only Living Boy in New York co-star in particular. “Callum Turner is someone I’ve worked with, and he’s so strong,” said Brosnan. “They all have a voice and a physique, and a presence on film. They all have longevity as actors, all of these young men. Whoever plays the role, I wish him the very best of life and strength and courage. You know, it’s hard to tell who it would be, but I eagerly await to hear the news and the celebration of the next James Bond.”

Nina Gold, the woman who cast Lowden in his Emmy-nominated role as Slow Horse‘s River Cartwright, is also leading the search for Craig’s successor. She also happened to cast O’Connor in his breakout role (as Prince Charles in The Crown).