James Bond casting news leaks after 'a few glasses of lager'

Josh O'Connor is reportedly going to be unveiled as the new James Bond after the news leaked during a boozy night out.

The Crown star, 36, is believed to have been on the shortlist of candidates to play 007 and now a new report suggests Josh has won the role after successfully negotiating the final stages of the auditions with Amazon MGM Studios. Josh had been appearing in the play Golden Boy at the Almeida Theatre in Islington, north London and The Sun reports one of his castmates let the Bond casting news slip after a "few glasses of lager" at a pub in Soho.

A source told the publication: "I bumped into one of Josh’s Golden Boy cast mates at The French House. They were recognised by a lot of people who asked for selfies and we got chatting in a corner completely by accident.

"Out of nowhere, and oiled by a few glasses of lager, they blurted out that Josh was the next James Bond. I said it was pure speculation but they were insistent it was Josh.

"They said that he had confided in them about getting the role when the cast of Golden Boy had celebratory drinks after the play finished its run on Halloween. "

It comes after Josh - who is best known for playing Prince Charles in Netflix series The Crown - admitted he finds it "very bizarre" that he's been mentioned as a potential James Bond.

The actor is said to have been competing for the role alongside Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Jacob Elordi - who have been mentioned as potential successors to Daniel Craig - and Josh confessed he felt amazed but "honoured" to be the subject of the speculation.

He told the BBC: "To be considered in that same sort of bracket is extraordinary. It's an incredibly bizarre pinch me moment... even being uttered in that same sentence and being considered for something like that."

However, Josh insisted he wouldn't be drawn on the speculation. He added: "But I am afraid, there is nothing to say beyond that."

Last month, it was reported the shortlist had narrowed to Slow Horses star Jack Lowden, Jacob Elordi and one unnamed actor.

The shortlist was reported by Jeff Sneider at The InSneider as well as World Of Reel’s Jordan Ruimy, who wrote: "A few weeks ago, I was told that the race to become the next James Bond had narrowed to three names: Jacob Elordi, Jack Lowden and an undisclosed third actor.

"I couldn't publish it then. Now that Jeff Sneider at The InSneider is also reporting Lowden and Elordi as finalists, the cat's out of the bag, so here we are. "What I'm hearing is that an announcement could come anytime between the last week of October and early November. That's soon."

Ruimy suggested Elordi is Amazon's favourite while Lowden is the more traditional choice for the role, however, the new film's director Denis Villeneuve may be backing the unnamed third actor as his "wild card".

The insider added: "Elordi is fresh-ish, but he's not British and he's not unknown. Lowden is British but will be pushing 37 when cameras roll.

"And then there's that third name, the mystery actor, who I'm told has barely been speculated about and who could be Villeneuve's wild card if he decides to go against the grain."