Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult emerge as new James Bond favourites

Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have emerged as surprise new contenders to become the next James Bond, with both actors reportedly having screen-tested for the role.

According to a new report from The Hollywood Reporter, Pattinson, 40, took part in auditions for the coveted role over the weekend of October 24, joining previously identified candidates Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor.

Hoult, 36, has also reportedly been identified as one of the mystery candidates, with TheWrap corroborating the reports that both actors were among the hopefuls.

Pattinson’s inclusion comes as a surprise given that he is already one of Hollywood’s most established leading men, and is currently starring as Bruce Wayne in The Batman franchise.

The actor is in the midst of a particularly busy year, having appeared alongside Zendaya in The Drama, played Antinous in Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey, and starred as television presenter Chris Hansen in the A24 drama Primetime.

He has also been working on The Batman Part II, with the Bond screen tests reportedly taking place in London.

Crucially, Pattinson has already worked with the director of the next Bond film, Denis Villeneuve, on the forthcoming Dune: Part Three, which is due for release on December 18. Their collaboration is said to have gone well, potentially giving the actor an advantage in the casting process.

Hoult, meanwhile, has extensive experience in major franchises, having played Beast in the X-Men films and Lex Luthor in Superman, alongside an acclaimed performance in Nosferatu.

Interestingly, Hoult was previously a runner-up to Pattinson for the role of Batman in the 2022 film.

The latest reports add another twist to the lengthy search for Daniel Craig‘s successor, which officially began in May.

Earlier this week, Bond experts suggested that Turner had already secured the role, after he was reportedly spotted attending a screen test at Bray Studios in Berkshire.

Meanwhile, a separate rumour claimed that O’Connor had been cast as 007, based on an account allegedly given by a colleague from his recent West End production of Golden Boy.

No official announcement has been made, however, and Amazon MGM Studios has declined to comment on the latest casting reports.

The next Bond film will be the first since Amazon assumed creative control of the franchise from longtime custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson in February 2025.

Villeneuve will direct the 26th instalment from a script by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman serving as producers.

Pascal has previously indicated that the new Bond will be announced before the end of 2026.

“We are being really, really methodical,” she explained. “I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow. And it’s got to be something really different that is stirring, exciting and different.”

Craig was announced as Bond in October 2005 and went on to play the character in five films, beginning with 2006’s Casino Royale and concluding with No Time To Die in 2021.