Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have screen-tested for the role of James Bond, adding two established franchise stars to the search for the next 007, according to Variety. Their involvement comes amid continuing speculation over who will succeed Daniel Craig following his 15-year tenure as the British spy. No official casting announcement has been made.
The next film, referred to as Bond 26, will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, whom Amazon MGM Studios selected last year. Steven Knight, the creator of “Peaky Blinders,” was hired to write the screenplay. Launching the installment has been a leading priority for producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman, who are the franchise’s new stewards.
Pattinson brings experience from several major film series to his candidacy. He plays Batman for DC Studios and previously appeared in the “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” franchises. He also has a connection to the incoming Bond director through his role in Villeneuve’s forthcoming film “Dune: Part Three.”
Hoult likewise has a background in large franchises, playing Lex Luthor in DC’s Superman films and appearing in the “X-Men” prequel trilogy released during the 2010s. His next release is “How to Rob a Bank,” an Amazon MGM Studios movie scheduled to arrive in theaters on Nov. 13.
The two British actors enter a casting conversation that has already encompassed numerous British performers in their 30s. Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor and Jack Lowden have been mentioned in British and American media coverage as rumored leading candidates. Those reports have kept several names in circulation as the production moves toward choosing its central star.
Other possibilities have also emerged. Variety reported that Harry Styles has held discussions about the role. Theo James, who is 41, has not been ruled out either. The reported discussions and screen tests leave the publicly known field of potential candidates broader than the names most frequently associated with the search.
Some contenders have received public backing from fellow actors. Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed Bond in the 1990s, recently endorsed Turner. Gary Oldman expressed support for Lowden, his co-star in “Slow Horses,” and also claimed that the next Bond had already been selected. That claim has not been followed by an official casting announcement. Amazon declined to comment on the casting rumors.
