Robert Pattinson has entered the race to become the next James Bond.
The star of The Batman has screen tested for 007, TheWrap reported, following an initial report from The Hollywood Reporter. He joins Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O'Connor among the actors in contention, with screen tests having started about two weeks before the Nov. 6 report. TheWrap added that Nicholas Hoult also reportedly screen tested for the part. Amazon MGM Studios had no comment.
A busy year for Pattinson
The news lands during a big stretch for the actor. Pattinson starred in A24's Primetime as Chris Hansen, host of the hidden-camera series To Catch a Predator, a performance that has drawn awards buzz. He played Antinous in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, which TheWrap calls a billion-dollar hit, and he appears in Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part 3, opening Dec. 18. He is also set to return as Bruce Wayne in The Batman: Part 2, which is expected to resume production in London.
Cup of Soul recently reported that Pattinson will receive the 40th American Cinematheque Award and that The Odyssey heads back to IMAX 70mm theaters Dec. 11.
The next Bond film will be the first since longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson handed full creative control of the franchise to Amazon MGM Studios. Villeneuve is set to direct, and Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight is writing the screenplay. It will be the first new Bond movie since Daniel Craig's farewell in 2021's No Time to Die.
TheWrap noted that Amazon wants to build a wider universe of programming around the 64-year-old spy franchise, which raises the stakes for whoever is chosen to reintroduce 007. Earlier this week, former Bond star Pierce Brosnan backed Callum Turner for the role.
No casting decision has been announced.
