'The Crown' star Josh O'Connor cast as next James Bond: Reports

Pic: Reuters

After playing Prince Charles in ‘The Crown’, Josh O’Connor may have just landed the coveted role of Britain's most famous fictional spy in the upcoming 007 film, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve.According to a report by The Sun on November 5, an actor who worked alongside O’Connor in the theatre production ‘Golden Boy’ allegedly revealed that the actor had secured the role, beating out front-runners Callum Turner and Jack Lowden.The report claims that the big casting reveal came during a night out at The French House pub in London's Soho, following the conclusion of ‘Golden Boy’s’ run on Halloween. According to a source quoted by the publication, one of O’Connor’s co-stars reportedly disclosed that the actor had privately shared the casting news with the theatre cast during their celebratory drinks.The Sun reported that the co-star was convinced O’Connor had been selected and was particularly excited for him.However, the reported casting has not been officially confirmed by Amazon MGM Studios or the Bond production team.O’Connor would be a somewhat unexpected choice among the actors linked to the iconic role. The actor, rose to international stardom for playing Prince Charles in the third and fourth seasons of Netflix's ‘The Crown’.

His performance earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2021. He has also featured in films such as ‘Challengers’.He even co-starred with former Bond, Daniel Craig in ‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’. Interestingly, Craig reportedly played a role in bringing O’Connor to the attention of filmmaker Rian Johnson for ‘Wake Up Dead Man’. Speaking about casting the actor, Johnson revealed, “Daniel brought him to my attention.”If O’Connor is eventually confirmed as the next 007, he will take over from Craig, whose final appearance as the British secret agent was in 2021's ‘No Time to Die’.O’Connor had recently addressed the speculation surrounding his possible casting and said to the BBC, “To be considered in that same sort of bracket is extraordinary.”The upcoming Bond film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, known for ‘Dune’ and ‘Blade Runner 2049’.