Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult screen tests reopen the James Bond race
Director Denis Villeneuve brought the former Batman rivals into a five-man London audition as Amazon MGM targets a decision before Thanksgiving.
English actors Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have entered the race to play James Bond after taking part in screen tests for director Denis Villeneuve, according to industry reports published Friday evening by Deadline, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter.
The auditions took place in London for the upcoming 26th James Bond film. Villeneuve is attached to direct the project from a screenplay written by Steven Knight, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing for Amazon MGM Studios.
Inside the London auditions
Pattinson and Hoult are part of a tight group of five actors who have completed screen tests in London for the role, according to Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. The other three contenders named in the trade reports are Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, and Josh O’Connor.
Justin Kroll of Deadline shared details about the auditions on X on November 7, writing, “One stars in a 2026 Amazon pic and another likes to wear a mask” before adding, “while Hoult and Patz were the last to be reported, my source says they were always in the final four tests and O’Connor was 11th hour addition. Expect a decision before thanksgiving.”
In its Heat Vision newsletter on November 6, The Hollywood Reporter observed the shift in profile for the candidates: “And we were told that these two thespians are notable and established names, above the level of the still-rising likes of Callum Turner and company.”
Familiar rivals and celebrity endorsements
The screen tests mark another high-stakes audition showdown between Pattinson and Hoult. Back in 2019, Hoult was a finalist alongside Pattinson when director Matt Reeves held screen tests for “The Batman,” a part Pattinson ultimately secured.
Both men also share recent professional ties with the creative team. Pattinson previously worked with Villeneuve on “Dune: Part Three,” while Hoult stars in the upcoming Amazon MGM Studios feature “How to Rob a Bank,” which opens in theaters on November 13, 2026.
Other actors in the mix already have prominent voices backing their bids. Former 007 star Pierce Brosnan publicly endorsed Callum Turner for the part, Variety and Men’s Journal reported. Gary Oldman also threw his public support behind his “Slow Horses” co-star Jack Lowden, asserting that the new James Bond had already been chosen.
What we know and what we do not know yet
Film commentators and social media audiences quickly reacted with surprise to the addition of established franchise leads. Online discussions debated whether Pattinson’s age or his ongoing commitments to “The Batman” would conflict with the demanding multi-film schedule required for 007.
Studio representatives at Amazon MGM Studios declined to comment to TheWrap and Variety, and the studio has made no official announcement. As The Hollywood Reporter’s Heat Vision newsletter noted on Friday, “And as we go into the weekend, there is still no official word on Bond. Two different outlets have reported two different names at this point.”
Daniel Craig formally stepped away from the role after leading five films between “Casino Royale” in 2006 and “No Time to Die” in 2021. It remains unknown which of the five actors Amazon MGM Studios and the producers will select, when an announcement will be made, or how ongoing commitments to DC Studios films would be balanced with the franchise.
