Robert Pattinson Reportedly Emerges as Amazon’s Top Pick To Become the Next James Bond

The race to find the next James Bond has been one of Hollywood’s most closely watched casting searches. Each new shortlist and screen-test rumor sets off another round of speculation, and the field has kept changing in recent weeks.

The franchise is entering a new era. Bond 26 is the first film produced under Amazon MGM, following a 2025 agreement that gave the studio creative control of the franchise previously run by Eon. Denis Villeneuve is directing, with ‘Peaky Blinders’ creator Steven Knight writing the script and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing.

Now one name appears to be pulling ahead. Puck’s Matthew Belloni reports that Amazon is eager for Robert Pattinson to become the next 007. In his What I’m Hearing newsletter, Belloni called the actor the most logical, lowest-risk choice for the role. He argued that Pattinson’s established star power makes him an unusually safe bet for Amazon MGM.

The details of the screen-test deals add weight to the report. The 5 finalists remain Nicholas Hoult, Jack Lowden, Josh O’Connor, Robert Pattinson and Callum Turner, and all of them signed test deals giving Amazon MGM options on future Bond movies if they get the part. According to Belloni, though, the deals were not equal.

Robert Pattinson is reportedly Amazon’s leading choice to play James Bond. 🔗 https://t.co/vNc9a66AS0 https://t.co/7FrfvHkbfw

— Film Crave (@_filmcrave) November 13, 2026

Pattinson’s terms reportedly stand out. Belloni says Amazon wants him as the next 007 with a 3-picture deal, compared with the 4-film commitment that would be required of Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor. Pattinson is also said to have negotiated a larger salary than the others.

According to Belloni, Pattinson’s test deal was so difficult to close that some involved wondered why the filmmakers would bother if they didn’t really want him. He adds that Pattinson was always a name Villeneuve wanted to see, and that Barbara Broccoli liked Pattinson for Bond years ago, before he was announced as Batman.

Denis Villeneuve can’t share much on his forthcoming James Bond film, but what he can say is this: "We cannot f*ck it up." https://t.co/GaW0GLX8iF

— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) November 11, 2026

The report could also affect Gotham. Belloni guesses that Pattinson is done with Batman after ‘The Batman Part II’, and argues that without Matt Reeves, the actor is unlikely to continue in the role. If Pattinson gets Bond, Batman would likely fall by the wayside.

Not everyone agrees with that reading. Cosmic Book News says its own Skydance sources tell a different story, and one of them questioned whether the Pattinson Bond talk is legit at all. Amazon MGM has declined to comment.

So has Denis Villeneuve picked his James Bond yet? GQ asked the director himself at a special #GQMOTY screening last night—but you’ll have to interpret his response for yourself. https://t.co/h0EBk8Q241

— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) November 11, 2026

Pattinson was a late addition to the race. Initial industry reports placed Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor on the producers’ shortlist before Pattinson and Hoult joined the testing phase. Harry Styles has reportedly discussed the role, and Theo James is still considered a possibility.

Denis Villeneuve says he’s having a "great time" screening actors for the upcoming James Bond movie. 📍 LACMA Art+Film Gala https://t.co/FgNYHowBb6

— Variety (@Variety) November 8, 2026

Another rumor circulating among fans claims Villeneuve was first interested in Pattinson as a Bond villain, and that Pattinson joined the screen tests to “face off” against potential Bonds. None of this has been confirmed. Fans may also remember that former ‘Bond 25’ director Danny Boyle suggested back in 2019 that Pattinson should play Bond after seeing him in ‘High Life’.

"Bond… James Bond” – The first trailer for #NoTimeToDie is here! In cinemas April 2020 #Bond25 #BondJamesBond https://t.co/Xo1pSYHgbc

— James Bond (@007) December 4, 2019

An answer may not be far off. The formal casting search began in spring 2026, led by Villeneuve, casting director Nina Gold and producers Pascal and Heyman. Pascal recently told Deadline that an announcement by the end of 2026 is a good bet.

Belloni has suggested that, barring hiccups, an announcement could come before Christmas. Filming is expected to start in 2027, with the movie targeting a 2028 release. For now, Villeneuve is keeping his vision for the next 007 tightly under wraps.

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