Robert Pattinson Reportedly Screen-Tested for James Bond — and Is Now the Frontrunner
(Illustration: USA Current Affaires)
Robert Pattinson could be trading Gotham City for the world of international espionage. The 40-year-old actor has reportedly screen-tested for the role of James Bond — and, according to a new report from Hollywood insider Matthew Belloni at Puck News, he has emerged as the frontrunner to succeed Daniel Craig as 007.
The report, published on Friday, November 13, has set the entertainment world alight. But Amazon MGM Studios has not officially announced any casting for Bond 26, and Pattinson has not been confirmed in the role. What Belloni reports is that the studio's negotiating behaviour strongly suggests Pattinson is its preferred choice — a reading the New York Post has now picked up.
Pattinson was a relatively late addition to the race. The initial shortlist was said to feature Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor, all 36, screen-tested in London over the weekend of October 23 to 25. Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult, 36, were then brought in afterwards — a second round Belloni reads as a sign the studio was not fully satisfied with its first choices.
A Three-Film Deal — and a Much Bigger Payday
The detail fuelling the frontrunner talk is the contract. Before screen-testing, every finalist had to sign a preliminary agreement — known as a test deal — setting out the terms they would accept if cast. According to Belloni, writing in Puck and citing sources familiar with the negotiations, the other contenders were asked to commit to four Bond films. Pattinson, by contrast, negotiated a commitment of just three films — and a fee described as "a whole lot more money than the others."
That gap is the heart of the story. As Belloni put it, the favourable terms suggest the studio is "willing or even eager to sacrifice a bit to get a 'name' star to front its most important franchise." The reasoning, as reported, is that some involved in the talks wondered why the filmmakers would go to such lengths to arrange Pattinson's test unless they were especially keen to land him. Director Denis Villeneuve is also reported to have wanted to see Pattinson from the beginning, although the actor's schedule on The Batman Part II initially limited his availability.
Hoult, the Superman star, also tested in the later round, but the reporting consistently places Pattinson ahead of the pack — and the betting markets agree. On prediction platform Kalshi, Pattinson had pulled ahead with a 37 percent chance of the role, ahead of Turner at 29 percent, Lowden at 28 percent, O'Connor at 25 percent and Hoult at 8 percent, according to MovieWeb.
Why Pattinson Makes Sense for Amazon
Pattinson's emergence comes at the end of a remarkable run at the box office. According to the New York Post, his recent films include The Drama ($134 million), The Odyssey (a staggering $1.8 billion) and Primetime ($62 million). He is also due in Dune: Part III and the sequel to The Batman, the franchise that made him a global box-office draw.
That commercial power is exactly what Amazon MGM is thought to want. Bond 26 will be the first film under the studio's creative control, after Amazon's 2025 deal with longtime producers Eon saw Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson step back. Villeneuve directs, Steven Knight writes, and David Heyman and Amy Pascal produce.
Pattinson's name has circulated in Bond circles for years. Belloni reports that Broccoli herself was interested in him around the time No Time to Die was preparing to shoot, but her interest cooled once he was cast as Batman. Under Amazon, that objection appears to have faded — and the studio now seems ready to break with the franchise's tradition of casting a relative unknown.
Villeneuve has insisted the process is still open. "It's in the process, in the process," he said recently, adding: "We are pushing the gas." Belloni suggests an announcement could arrive before Christmas, barring complications — and producer Amy Pascal has previously hinted a decision should come before the end of 2026.
For now, fans should treat the news with caution. A favourable test deal is not a signed contract, and Bond casting history is full of reported frontrunners who never picked up the Walther PPK. What is clear is that Pattinson, once mocked as the Twilight heartthrob, has become one of Hollywood's most bankable actors — and if Amazon hands him the tuxedo, it would be the biggest casting story of the year. We reported earlier on Villeneuve's search for the next Bond, and Tom Holland is also chasing awards glory with his next blockbuster.
Would Robert Pattinson make a great James Bond — or should the role go to a lesser-known actor? Let us know in the comments.
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