Josh O'Connor responds to rumours he could play James Bond by insisting he's 'taking some time out' in 2027 after a shortlist of stars completed their final auditions

Josh O’Connor has responded to rumours that he could play James Bond by insisting he's 'taking some time out' in 2027.Fans are eagerly anticipating news of the next star to play 007, after Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and a third mystery actor took part in final auditions last month. Now, Josh, who is best known for his performances in The Crown and Challengers, has played down speculation that he could be the one to take over from Daniel Craig during a screening of the National Theatre production of Golden Boy.When asked about the possibility of taking over as the iconic British spy, he said: ‘No, no, no. We’ll see but I doubt it.'‘I’m doing something in January, but then yeah, I’m taking some time out,’ Josh added – a potential sign that the role of Bond might have slipped through his fingers.However, he said to be considered in that sort of bracket is 'extraordinary'. Josh O’Connor has responded to rumours that he could play James Bond by insisting he's 'taking some time out' in 2027He further told the BBC: 'It’s incredibly, like, a bizarre pinch me moment. Of even being uttered in that same sentence and being considered for something like that. ‘It is extraordinary, so I’m very honoured but I’m afraid there’s nothing to say beyond that.'Josh recently wrapped his run as the lead role in Golden Boy at the Almeida Theatre in Islington, London, where he played 60 shows.According to the latest odds from Ladbrokes, Jack is now the clear front-runner, followed by Callum at 11/4.Josh falls further behind in the odds at 8/1.Slow Horses star and other front-runner Jack, 36, broke his silence on claims that he is the ‘clear favourite’ for the role while speaking to GQ Hype, telling them he believes his future lies in directing.'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...'As a young male actor, generally, the minute you're not playing a zany artist type, the minute you're in a suit, people fling it at you.'Expanding on plans for working behind the camera in the future, he added: 'I don't think it's [his future career] in acting, really. I think it's in making something of my own.' Fans are eagerly anticipating news of the next star to play 007, after Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and a third mystery actor took part in final auditions last month (pictured Daniel Craig)Furthermore, it was recently reported that other front-runner Callum, 36, has quit the film company he founded with wife Dua Lipa – a potential sign that he’s focused solely on securing the 007 job.The actor has resigned as a director of Twentytwo Films Ltd which he founded with his pop star wife Dua last August with equal shares, aiming to produce film and television projects similar to Margot Robbie's LuckyChap production house.Casting for the role of James Bond by December would allow Amazon MGM Studios to start filming the next movie in 2027.Dune director Denis Villeneuve, who is taking on the project and bosses at Amazon announced in May that the casting process was underway.Confirming that the audition process was reaching an end, Bond producer Amy Pascal in August said: 'I would say the end of the year is a good bet.'Ms Pascal said: 'We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow.'And it's got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different.'Other stars who were previously linked with the role include The King's Man star Harris Dickinson, along with SAS: Rogue Heroes' Jack Barton.Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig are the only six actors that have ever played novelist Ian Fleming's British Secret Service agent in the official film series.