British actors Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have emerged as late contenders to become the next James Bond after taking part in recent screen tests, multiple entertainment trade publications reported Friday.
Pattinson and Hoult joined fellow actors Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor in testing for the coveted part of agent 007, according to reporting from Deadline, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. The auditions reportedly took place late last month in London under the direction of Denis Villeneuve, who was hired last year to helm the next installment in the storied franchise.
Amazon MGM Studios, which took control of the creative direction of the property after acquiring the rights in February 2025, declined to comment on the reports.
A Competitive Shortlist for 007
The screen tests follow an extensive talent search that officially launched in May with casting director Nina Gold, Deadline reported. The studio initially cut down a broad list of candidates during preliminary meetings over the summer before offering tests to a final group originally capped at four, with a fifth actor added right before the audition sessions, according to Deadline.
The auditions were slated for earlier in October but were shifted to the final weekend of the month to resolve scheduling hurdles among the contenders, The Hollywood Reporter reported. A final decision on who will succeed Daniel Craig could arrive before Thanksgiving, Deadline noted.
Pattinson, 40, currently headlines DC Studios’ Batman series and worked with Villeneuve on the forthcoming film “Dune: Part Three.” Hoult, who plays Lex Luthor in the current DC cinematic slate and starred in the “X-Men” franchise, was previously the runner-up behind Pattinson during casting for 2022’s “The Batman.” Hoult is also starring in the Amazon MGM Studios release “How to Rob a Bank,” scheduled to debut in theaters on Nov. 13.
New Era for the Spy Franchise
The next movie marks the first Bond project produced without the creative helm of the Broccoli family, who sold creative rights early last year, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing the upcoming film alongside Villeneuve, while Tanya Lapointe serves as an executive producer.
Steven Knight, the creator of the television drama “Peaky Blinders,” is writing the screenplay. Villeneuve publicly embraced the assignment when he was announced as director, emphasizing his personal reverence for the character.
“To me, he’s sacred territory,” Villeneuve said when his hiring was unveiled. “I intend to honor the tradition and open the path for many new missions to come. This is a massive responsibility, but also, incredibly exciting for me and a huge honor.”
Before Pattinson and Hoult entered the race, speculative focus centered on Turner, Lowden and O’Connor. Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in four films during the 1990s and early 2000s, recently expressed public support for Turner, while Oscar winner Gary Oldman endorsed Lowden, his castmate on the television series “Slow Horses,” Variety reported. Variety also noted that singer and actor Harry Styles had held discussions regarding the role, while rumors surrounding Jacob Elordi have faded.
The role has remained vacant since Craig ended his five-film tenure with the 2021 release “No Time to Die.” Craig was cast in October 2005, kicking off a run that included the 2012 release “Skyfall,” the highest-grossing entry in the history of the franchise.
Amazon MGM Studios has not publicly announced a target production start or release date for the next movie, and an official timeline for an actor announcement has not been confirmed.
