Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult Reportedly Join the Final Race To Play James Bond

The search for the next James Bond is reaching its final stretch, and the shortlist just got a lot more interesting. This is the first Bond film made since Amazon bought the franchise’s creative rights from the Broccoli family in February 2025. Amazon MGM Studios hired Denis Villeneuve to direct the 26th Bond film last year, with Steven Knight writing the script.

The process has been careful and slow. Following 2 months of meetings, the first round of auditions took place in August, and the studio, producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, and Villeneuve then cut the list to its final group and worked out test offers in September. Early reports named 3 of the finalists: Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Josh O’Connor.

The final group now includes 2 much bigger names. According to Deadline’s latest report, insiders say Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult joined Lowden, O’Connor and Turner in recent screen tests to play the next 007, though the information isn’t confirmed. Film Updates listed all 5 actors as those who have reportedly screen-tested for the role.

Pattinson’s involvement first came out in another trade report. The Hollywood Reporter broke the Pattinson news late on November 6, citing multiple sources. According to the outlet, the 40-year-old took a break from filming ‘The Batman: Part II’ to do the screen test.

He also has a history with the director. Pattinson recently worked with Villeneuve on ‘Dune: Part Three’, and the collaboration reportedly went well for both men. According to World of Reel, while ‘The Batman Part II’ paused production, Villeneuve asked his good friend to come in for a screen test.

Actors who have reportedly screen-tested for the role of James Bond: • Robert Pattinson • Nicholas Hoult • Callum Turner • Jack Lowden • Josh O’Connor https://t.co/c3N0SHbt44
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) November 7, 2026

Hoult’s inclusion revives an old casting rivalry. The 36-year-old Hoult was the runner-up to Pattinson for the Batman role years ago. The outlets don’t fully agree on Hoult, though; THR seemed less certain about him than about Pattinson.

The order of the tests is also unclear. Deadline’s insiders say a fifth test was added at the 11th hour, though it’s unknown which actor was the last addition. Journalist Justin Kroll later tweeted that his source said Hoult and Pattinson were always in the final 4 tests and that O’Connor was the 11th-hour addition.

The tests were reportedly scheduled around the finalists’ commitments. They were originally planned for earlier in October but were pushed to the end of the month because of scheduling conflicts, so they could happen around the same time. They took place the weekend of October 24 in London, where Pattinson is currently filming ‘The Batman Part II’.

Not everyone was part of the final group. The Hollywood Reporter said Jacob Elordi and Jack O’Connell would not test. Meanwhile, Variety reported that Harry Styles had discussions about the part and that 41-year-old Theo James hasn’t been ruled out.

Some of the finalists have well-known supporters. Pierce Brosnan endorsed Turner, while Gary Oldman backed his ‘Slow Horses’ co-star Lowden. Oldman also claimed the next Bond has already been chosen, though there has been no official announcement.

The tabloids haven’t helped clear things up. This week, two different UK tabloids named 2 different actors, Lowden and O’Connor, as the chosen one, after the previous week’s claim that Turner had been cast. A decision is expected by late November, so fans may know soon who will be the next 007.