Pattinson and Hoult Tested for James Bond, Joining Lowden, O'Connor and Turner on Shortlist
Two of Britain's biggest franchise stars made surprise late-stage screen tests for 007, reshaping a search that had focused on younger, lesser-known actors.
Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult — two of the most recognizable British actors currently anchoring major franchise films — have screen-tested for the role of James Bond, upending a casting search that had until recently centered on a younger, lower-profile group of candidates.
According to Deadline, insiders confirmed that Pattinson and Hoult joined Jack Lowden, Josh O'Connor, and Callum Turner in recent screen tests, with the full group reported to be no larger than five. The Hollywood Reporter had earlier noted that two established stars made last-minute reads, and scooper Jeff Sneider subsequently named both men on his Hot Mic podcast.
Amazon MGM Studios has not commented, and no casting decision has been announced.
Pattinson, 40, currently stars as Batman in Matt Reeves' DC films. According to Comicbook.com, a pause in production on The Batman: Part II gave Pattinson an opening to pursue the role — though it remains unclear what effect a Bond commitment would have on Reeves' rumored third Batman film.
Hoult plays Lex Luthor in the DC Universe and is set to appear in the 2026 Amazon film How to Rob a Bank — the detail Sneider used as a clue before naming him. He is also expected to return for a third Superman film, meaning a Bond deal could complicate James Gunn's plans for that franchise.
The arrival of two franchise-proven names at the final stage carries a clear implication: Amazon MGM may not have been fully satisfied with what it saw from the earlier group of candidates, who were mostly actors in their late twenties and early thirties. Pattinson at 40 is older than the profile the studio was initially reported to be targeting — someone who could carry the role for a decade or more — but his commercial track record, from Twilight to The Batman, makes him a known box-office quantity.
The Bond franchise has been without a lead since Daniel Craig's 15-year run ended. No director or release date for the next film has been publicly confirmed.
Why it matters — The late addition of two franchise-proven stars signals that the Bond producers may be reconsidering their approach to the search, with the final choice likely to shape the franchise's commercial and creative direction for the next decade.
⚠ Not yet confirmed
- Pattinson and Hoult tested for Bond — the studio has not confirmed this.
- A Bond commitment could affect Pattinson's involvement in a rumored third Batman film.
- Hoult is expected to return for a third Superman film, which a Bond deal could complicate.
- Pattinson worked with incoming Bond director Denis Villeneuve on Dune: Part Three.
- specific test date around October 24
- Pattinson worked with Denis Villeneuve on Dune: Part Three
Reported by variety.com, hollywoodreporter.com, deadline.com, comicbook.com, nacionale.com
