Entertainment · Next James Bond casting and actor selection
Josh O'Connor reportedly turns down James Bond role, per an unnamed source
The Daily Mail reported, citing an unnamed source, that Josh O'Connor has turned down the James Bond role. Amazon has not confirmed, and O'Connor earlier said he doubted he would play Bond.
Updated (version 2). New coverage since the last version from The Independent.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2The Daily Mail reported on 10 November that Josh O'Connor will not play James Bond, quoting a source who said: 'Josh has turned down the Bond role.' Daily MailR “the Daily Mail can reveal that Josh is out of the running after a source confirmed: 'Josh has turned down the Bond role.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Digital SpyN “a source has told the Daily Mail simply: "Josh has turned down the Bond role."” Read at Digital Spy ↗ Right · 1The Daily Mail said it had contacted representatives for Amazon for comment; the report is based on a single unnamed source and has not been confirmed. Daily MailR “The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Amazon for comment.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2At a screening of the National Theatre production of Golden Boy the week before, O'Connor was asked about taking over as Bond and said: 'No, no, no. We'll see but I doubt it.' He added that he was doing something in January and then 'taking some time out'. Daily MailR “‘No, no, no. We’ll see but I doubt it.'” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Digital SpyN “"I’m doing something in January, but then yeah, I’m taking some time out."” Read at Digital Spy ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail said O'Connor called being considered in that bracket 'extraordinary'. Daily MailR “he said to be considered in that sort of bracket is 'extraordinary'.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Centre · 1Deadline had reported the previous month that O'Connor was one of four actors still in the running, alongside Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and an unnamed fourth star; names such as Joe Alwyn, Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have been mentioned since. Digital SpyN “Last month, Deadline reported that he was one of four actors still in the running for the job, alongside Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and a fourth unnamed star.” Read at Digital Spy ↗ Centre · 1Digital Spy noted that the new report contradicts a recent story in The Sun, which cited another source saying a Golden Boy co-star had let slip that O'Connor had signed up for the part. Digital SpyN “The new report contradicts a recent story in The Sun, which cited another source as saying one of Josh's co-stars in the recent stage production of Golden Boy had let slip that he had, in fact, signed up for the part.” Read at Digital Spy ↗
Right · 1The Daily Mail said Callum Turner is the bookmakers' favourite at 11/10 with William Hill, with O'Connor's odds having shortened from 9/1 to 5/2 and Robert Pattinson's from 16/1 to 3/1 before this report; it also said Turner had screen-tested at Bray studios and reportedly quit a film company he founded with his wife, Dua Lipa. Daily MailR “Turner is currently holding strong as favourite though, heading the betting at 11/10.”“It was recently reported that he has also quit the film company he founded with wife Dua Lipa” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Producer Amy Pascal said over the summer that an announcement 'by the end of the year is a good bet'; the Daily Mail said casting by December would let Amazon MGM Studios start filming in 2027. Steven Knight is writing and Denis Villeneuve directing the next film. Digital SpyN “Producer Amy Pascal said over the summer that an announcement by "the end of the year is a good bet"”“we do know who is writing and directing the next movie in the series: Steven Knight and Denis Villeneuve respectively.” Read at Digital Spy ↗ Daily MailR “Casting the role of James Bond by December would allow Amazon MGM Studios to start filming the next movie in 2027.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Left · 1The Independent's Annabel Nugent, in an opinion piece on 12 November, said the claim is based on 'reports, rumours, and unnamed sources', and that whether or not O'Connor has withdrawn, she thought it plausible he was 'getting cold feet'. The IndependentLC “True or not, I’d wager O’Connor is likely getting cold feet about the whole thing.”“stories about the Bond casting saga are based on reports, rumours, and unnamed sources” Read at The Independent ↗
Left · 1Nugent argued that O'Connor is famously press shy and offline, and that the all-consuming press tours a Bond role would require make an exit plausible; she also noted that Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult were reportedly invited to screen-test alongside O'Connor, Callum Turner and Jack Lowden. The IndependentLC “he is famously press shy, and seems to find the attention of media and fans excruciating at the best of times”“two previously unmentioned A-listers had been invited to screen test for the role” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Opinion column treating the Mail's claim as unverified rumour but arguing O'Connor's exit makes sense given his temperament and talent, with a wry tone about the long Bond casting saga.
- Emphasis
- O'Connor's press shyness, offline habits and range as an actor; the unreliability of anonymous casting reports; the claim that either outcome is good for his fans.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not give the betting odds, the announcement timetable or the earlier Sun report that O'Connor had signed up.
- Charged language
- “odyssey of cinematic proportions”“cold feet”
- For example
-
“The journey to find James Bond has been an odyssey of cinematic proportions” — The Independent
“True or not, I’d wager O’Connor is likely getting cold feet about the whole thing.” — The Independent
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Cautious secondary report on the Mail's claim, treating it as an allegation and placing it among conflicting rumours.
- Emphasis
- The claim's unverified status, its conflict with The Sun, the Deadline shortlist and the announcement timetable.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the betting odds or Turner's commercial work and company exit.
- Charged language
- “allegedly”
- For example
-
“has allegedly taken himself out of contention” — Digital Spy
“The new report contradicts a recent story in The Sun” — Digital Spy
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Exclusive-style scoop: the Mail leads with O'Connor being out, then adds betting odds and Callum Turner's activities.
- Emphasis
- The source's confirmation, O'Connor's own 'time out' remarks, bookmaker odds and Turner's schedule.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention The Sun's contradictory report that O'Connor had signed up, or Deadline as the source of the shortlist.
- Charged language
- “WON'T”“the role of a lifetime”
- For example
-
“now the Daily Mail can reveal that Josh is out of the running after a source confirmed” — Daily Mail
“Turner is currently holding strong as favourite though, heading the betting at 11/10.” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Both outlets report that a source told the Daily Mail 'Josh has turned down the Bond role.'
- Both quote O'Connor saying at a Golden Boy screening that he doubted he would be Bond and was 'taking some time out'.
- Jack Lowden and Callum Turner are named as other contenders.
Where accounts differ
-
Whether O'Connor has turned the role down
- Centre
- Digital Spy calls it an 'allegedly' and 'surprising new claim' from one source, and notes it contradicts The Sun's report that he had signed up.
- Right
- The Daily Mail presents it as something it can 'reveal', based on a source who 'confirmed' it, though it awaits Amazon's comment.
-
Josh O'Connor has turned down the James Bond role.
Reported- Supports 1
- Daily Mail
- Reports 2
- The Independent, Digital Spy
-
O'Connor is unlikely to play Bond and plans to take time out after a January project.
Reported- Reports 3
- The Independent, Digital Spy, Daily Mail
Josh O’Connor person
O'Connor said publicly he doubted he would be Bond and planned to take time out in 2027, and called being considered 'extraordinary'; he has not confirmed the turn-down himself in the coverage.
“‘No, no, no. We’ll see but I doubt it.'” — Daily Mail
“"I’m doing something in January, but then yeah, I’m taking some time out."” — Digital Spy
Left1 article
-
The IndependentLC · · Opinion
It was only a matter of time before this James Bond contender pulled out of the race
Mixed Opinion piece that doubts the anonymous sourcing yet argues O'Connor's withdrawal is unsurprising given his press shyness and range.
Centre1 article
-
James Bond contender has 'turned down' the role as he plans to take "some time out"
Neutral Reports the claim as alleged, contrasts it with The Sun's report and recaps the casting timetable.
Right1 article
-
Mixed Presents an unnamed-source scoop as a reveal and surrounds it with odds and gossip about rival Callum Turner.
- 10 Nov 22:37 First Daily MailR Josh O'Connor WON'T be the next James Bond as actor 'turns down role' after previously insisting he would be 'taking some time out' in 2027
- 11 Nov 17:48 +19h 11m Digital SpyN James Bond contender has 'turned down' the role as he plans to take "some time out"
- 12 Nov 14:33 +39h 57m The IndependentLC It was only a matter of time before this James Bond contender pulled out of the race Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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