Quick summary
- Robert Pattinson, 40, has reportedly screen tested for the next James Bond film, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
- Nicholas Hoult is reported to have tested too, joining Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor.
- Amazon MGM Studios has not named a shortlist or confirmed any casting.
- No release date is set, and production is expected to start in 2027.
Robert Pattinson has become the surprise name in the race to play 007. The Hollywood Reporter says the actor screen tested for the role over the weekend of 24 October, according to a summary from the Motion Picture Association’s The Credits. The news has pushed him into a field that already included some of Britain’s most talked-about actors.
Who else is in the Robert Pattinson James Bond race
The trades first said the search for a successor to Daniel Craig was entering its final stages. Deadline reported that Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor were testing, according to Gold Derby’s rundown. The Hollywood Reporter then added two unnamed actors who had tested for the director. Pattinson surfaced first, and Hoult followed.
Gold Derby also notes that The Hollywood Reporter said Jack O’Connell and Jacob Elordi would not be part of the testing.
The Times of India adds that Harry Styles reportedly held talks about the part, though it says nobody has confirmed an audition. That remains a rumour.
Why Denis Villeneuve matters
Denis Villeneuve is directing the next Bond film. Pattinson has just worked with him on Dune: Part Three, which Gold Derby says is due in cinemas in December. Villeneuve has called the Bond job “a massive responsibility” and “a huge honor”.
Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, is writing the script. Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing. It is the first Bond film under Amazon MGM Studios, following a deal with longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson in 2025.
For context, Craig played Bond in five films from 2005. His last, No Time to Die, earned nearly $800 million worldwide in 2021. The next actor will be the first new 007 in 21 years.
A big year for Pattinson
The timing is striking. The Credits notes he starred in A24’s The Drama, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey and Lance Oppenheim’s Primetime this year. He is also filming The Batman Part II. The Ankler’s awards column says he plays the villain Antinous in The Odyssey and calls him a possible supporting actor contender, though only 21 per cent of its pundits currently predict a nomination.
He has some spy experience already. Den of Geek points to his role in Nolan’s Tenet, and argues his work on The Batman shows he can play a hero with a damaged side. That is the outlet’s opinion, not a report.
What the odds say
Prediction market Kalshi puts Pattinson at 29 per cent to be cast, tied with Callum Turner and just behind Jack Lowden at 31 per cent, according to Kalshi News. Josh O’Connor sits at 18 per cent and Hoult at 7 per cent. These are trader estimates, not inside information.
Kalshi also flags two counterpoints. Pattinson already fronts a large franchise in The Batman, and previous Bond producers have often preferred a lesser-known face. Some online commenters even suggest the two actors tested for a villain role instead. That theory is unconfirmed.
What happens next
Amazon MGM Studios has named no finalists, and Kalshi says an announcement is expected soon, with no date given. Gold Derby says Bond 26 is expected to shoot in 2027, with no release date confirmed. Until then, every name above remains a report.
Frequently asked questions
Has Robert Pattinson been cast as James Bond?
No. The Hollywood Reporter says he screen tested, but Amazon MGM Studios has not announced any casting.
Who else has reportedly screen tested for Bond?
Reports name Nicholas Hoult, Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor.
Who is directing the next Bond film?
Denis Villeneuve, who also directed Pattinson in Dune: Part Three.
When will the next Bond film be released?
No release date has been set. Production is expected to begin in 2027.
For more on the stars of the screen, browse our Movies and Celebrities pages, or return to the Modus Carry home page.
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