Josh O’Connor may be in the James Bond conversation, but his next on-screen role will be the filmed version of his latest play, “Golden Boy.”
National Theater Live, which has sold out at the Almeida Theater in London, brings “The Golden Child” to the big screen starting from November 5th. In Clifford Odets’ acclaimed play, directed by Sam Yates, O’Connor plays Joe Bonaparte, “a gifted young violinist with a future in music, until a chance at fame and fortune draws him into the cutthroat world of professional boxing,” according to its synopsis. “He must confront what he is willing to sacrifice, who he is willing to be, and how to find his place in a world that requires him to choose a side.”
In the exclusive first look clip above, O’Connor deftly grapples with her longing to return to music, embracing a past version of herself as she plays the violin while her face bleeds from a boxing injury. Filmed during a performance at the Almeida Theatre, “Golden Boy” features a live string quartet along with O’Connor and fellow actors Hayley Squires and Daniel Mays.
“Golden Boy” marked O’Connor’s return to the London stage after five years of worldwide fame. He is an Emmy winner for his role as King Charles in Netflix’s “The Crown” and has received critical acclaim for his roles in films such as “La Chimera,” Luca Guadagnino’s “Challengers,” “Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man” and Steven Spielberg’s “Discovery Day.”
“Golden Boy” comes to theaters worldwide starting November 5. Tickets are on sale now on National Theater Live’s website.