Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have reportedly screen tested for James Bond, joining a shortlist under Amazon's newly acquired franchise.
During screen tests in London over the weekend of October 24, Pattinson read for the part alongside Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor. He's 40 years old and is currently filming The Batman Part II in London. Hoult came second to Pattinson in the Batman casting years ago.
The first Bond casting search under Amazon is now under way. Amazon took over the franchise from the Broccoli family in February 2025, and Denis Villeneuve will direct the next film, while Amy Pascal, producer of Spider-Man, and David Heyman, producer of Harry Potter, are steering the project.
Their collaboration on Dune: Part 3 is said to have worked well for both Pattinson and Villeneuve. The film arrives December 18.
Amazon declined to comment on the screen tests.
Craig's two-decade run and the franchise ahead
Daniel Craig's Bond casting was announced in October 2005, 21 years before this search. He played Bond in five films, ending with 2021's No Time to Die. The report said the search for Craig's successor began in May, with a shortlist revealed more recently.
The 2012 Bond film Skyfall is the franchise's sole entry to earn more than $1 billion USD.
A growing list of contenders
Variety said Harry Styles and Theo James have discussed the role with executives or been among those considered. James, 41, remains in contention, although he said in August he was not interested in the role.
The 36-year-old actor Josh O'Connor is from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, and won the outstanding lead actor Emmy in 2021 for playing then-Prince Charles in Netflix's The Crown. He co-starred with Daniel Craig in Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man. Based on an unnamed source, The Sun reported that O'Connor confided in a Golden Boy cast mate about getting the Bond role over drinks with the cast after the play's Halloween run ended.
To be considered in that same sort of bracket is extraordinary
Asked by the BBC about the casting rumour, O'Connor neither confirmed nor denied it, saying: "It's an incredibly bizarre pinch me moment...even being uttered in that same sentence and being considered for something like that. But I am afraid, there is nothing to say beyond that."
Pierce Brosnan, a former James Bond actor, said he found the casting process a mystery. "I'm just the man in the street who is eager to see who is going to play this epic role of cinematic history," he said. "All the men who are on the list now are actors I admire."
| Candidate | Age | Key credits | Current project |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Pattinson | 40 | The Batman, Dune: Part 3 | The Batman Part II in London |
| Nicholas Hoult | Not stated | X-Men series, Mad Max: Fury Road | Not stated |
| Josh O'Connor | 36 | The Crown (Emmy 2021), Knives Out: Wake Up Dead Man | Golden Boy (ended October 31) |
| Callum Turner | Not stated | Fantastic Beasts films | Not stated |
| Jack Lowden | Not stated | Killers of the Flower Moon, Mary Queen of Scots | Not stated |
| Theo James | 41 | The Divergent Series, The White Lotus | Not ruled out despite August withdrawal |
What remains unknown
No one has been officially named as the next James Bond. The timing of any casting decision remains unclear, and whether the reported screen tests will lead directly to a decision or whether further rounds are planned is not known.
What we know
- Screen tests took place in London over the weekend of October 24.
- Denis Villeneuve is directing the next Bond film.
- This is Amazon's first casting search for the role.
Still unclear
- Who will be cast as the next James Bond.
- When any casting decision will be announced.
- Whether further rounds of screen tests are planned.
