Robert Pattinson has reportedly screen-tested for the role of James Bond, adding an unexpected Hollywood heavyweight to the search for Daniel Craig’s successor as the iconic British spy.
The 40-year-old actor, best known for playing Batman in DC’s film franchise, is among several performers considered for the next 007 movie.
The auditions reportedly took place over the weekend of October 24, with Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor also emerging as contenders. Nicholas Hoult, who previously competed with Pattinson for the role of Batman, has additionally surfaced as a name in the Bond casting search.
Pattinson’s involvement is particularly notable because the franchise had been widely expected to pursue a less-established star rather than an actor already leading another major film series. His reported screen test suggests the casting search is considering performers with very different levels of international recognition.
One connection that could prove relevant is Pattinson’s existing working relationship with Denis Villeneuve, who is directing the upcoming Bond film. The actor appears in Villeneuve’s Dune: Part 3, scheduled for release on December 18, and their collaboration reportedly went well.
Pattinson also has a demanding film schedule. He is currently shooting The Batman Part II in London, where the Bond screen tests have been taking place. His recent projects include Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, the A24 film The Drama and another A24 production, Primetime.
His career has moved between major studio franchises and filmmaker-driven projects.
After appearing in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in 2005, Pattinson achieved worldwide recognition through the Twilight series. He subsequently worked with directors including Robert Eggers, the Safdie brothers and Nolan, whose 2020 espionage thriller Tenet showcased him in a spy-focused action film.
The next Bond movie will also mark a major change behind the scenes.
It will be the first installment developed under Amazon’s creative control after the company acquired those rights from the Broccoli family in February 2025. Amy Pascal, known for her work on the Spider-Man films, and Harry Potter producer David Heyman are overseeing the project as producers.
Amazon declined to comment on the reported screen tests.
The search follows Craig’s departure from the franchise after No Time to Die in 2021. Craig was selected for the role in October 2005 and portrayed Bond across five films, including 2012’s Skyfall, which became the franchise’s first and only movie to surpass $1 billion at the global box office.
More than five years after Craig’s final appearance, the identity of the next James Bond remains a major unanswered question for the franchise.
Pattinson’s reported audition does not establish him as the frontrunner or indicate that a casting decision has been made. However, his inclusion shows that the search extends to established stars already associated with major Hollywood franchises, potentially challenging expectations about the kind of actor who will lead Bond into its Amazon-controlled era.
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