Josh O’Connor addresses and hilariously shuts down live-action Ratatouille rumors during his Saturday Night Live debut, while also joking about fame, fan theories, and his rising Hollywood career.
Josh O’Connor made his Saturday Night Live hosting debut unforgettable by addressing one of the most unexpected rumors tied to his name: a supposed live-action Ratatouille movie starring him as Chef Linguini. During his opening monologue on Saturday night, the Emmy-winning actor playfully shut down the speculation, while also poking fun at how quickly fan theories can spiral into full-blown headlines.
O’Connor, best known for his critically acclaimed role as Prince Charles on Netflix’s The Crown, opened his monologue by casually listing his recent credits, including Challengers and the upcoming Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery. He described himself as having a reputation for being a “soft boy” who simply wants to live a quiet, low-key life. That calm image, he explained, is exactly why the rumor mill caught him off guard.
According to O’Connor, the entire Ratatouille buzz started innocently. At some point, he mentioned that Ratatouille is one of his favorite movies — a harmless opinion shared by millions of fans. But in today’s hyper-online culture, that single comment quickly evolved into fan casting ideas, memes, and speculation suggesting he was attached to a live-action remake of the beloved Pixar film.
“I’m not very online,” O’Connor told the audience, explaining that he had no idea the rumor even existed until it reached an absurd peak. That peak, he joked, came when the president of Disney-Pixar publicly stated there would never be a live-action Ratatouille remake — “no matter how much Josh O’Connor wants it.”
Read also… Peter Greene Dies at 60: ‘Pulp Fiction’ and ‘The Mask’ Actor Remembered
The actor leaned fully into the joke, asking the audience if they knew how it felt to be publicly rejected from a job he never wanted in the first place. He clarified that he doesn’t actually want a live-action Ratatouille and claimed he doesn’t even have time for it. Still, the contradiction became part of the humor, as he couldn’t resist tossing in playful hints that suggested otherwise.
O’Connor pointed out the irony that he’s already starring in the next Knives Out film, noting that “Wake Up Dead Man” sounds suspiciously like the perfect title for a live-action Ratatouille. He quickly brushed that thought aside — before cheekily adding that, for what it’s worth, he would “kill” to play Linguini.
The monologue continued with O’Connor joking about how a project like Ratatouille would only work with the perfect cast. He even floated an inspired idea for the role of the intimidating food critic Anton Ego, suggesting Jeff Goldblum as a potential choice. The suggestion drew big laughs, especially when O’Connor immediately walked it back, saying, “Yes, but later.”
Beyond the monologue, the night kicked off with a political cold open that featured James Austin Johnson reprising his role as an “exhausted” Donald Trump. Framed as a late-night press briefing, the sketch touched on current headlines, including media mergers and the resurfacing of Epstein-related news. Johnson’s exaggerated performance leaned into Trump’s signature contradictions, delivering jokes that balanced absurdity with topical commentary.
When asked about a potential sale of Warner Bros. to Netflix, Johnson’s Trump dismissed the studio with a rant about its tour experience. Later, when questioned about controversial photos, the character denied them as “fake news” — only to immediately claim ownership of the most ridiculous ones for comedic effect.
Saturday night also marked a major moment for musical guest Lily Allen, who appeared on SNL for the second time. During her second performance of the night, Allen was joined by Dakota Johnson for an emotional rendition of “Madeline,” a track from her latest album West End Girl. The song, inspired by themes of trust and betrayal in relationships, gained extra depth as Johnson acted out parts of the narrative on stage, speaking select lyrics directly to Allen.
Josh O’Connor’s appearance as host highlighted just how far his career has come since his breakout role on The Crown, which earned him an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor. Since then, he has built an impressive résumé with bold, character-driven performances in films like Challengers and upcoming projects including The Mastermind and Knives Out.
This episode also fit into a strong season for Saturday Night Live. Season 51 has already featured hosts like Bad Bunny, Amy Poehler, Sabrina Carpenter, Miles Teller, Nikki Glaser, Glen Powell, and Melissa McCarthy. With just one episode left in 2025, anticipation is high for the finale, where Ariana Grande will host and Cher will return as musical guest for the first time since 1987.
Josh O’Connor’s SNL debut proved that even false rumors can turn into comedic gold — especially when handled with self-awareness, charm, and impeccable timing. And while a live-action Ratatouille may never happen, his monologue ensured the internet will be talking about it for a long time to come.
