Two established leading men are reportedly among the now-five candidates to have screen-tested for the role of James Bond – and these two A-listers would be the most famous stars to be cast as 007 should one of them bag the coveted role.
Every week brings a new rumour and supposed "confirmation" regarding the identity of the actor who will portray the seventh James Bond.
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Will it be Callum Turner, who recently got Pierce Brosnan's seal of approval?
Could the role go to Jack Lowden, who has been a longtime favourite for the role?
Or will Josh O'Connor nab the role at the last minute?
While many were seeing this as a three-way race, surprising reports emerged this weekend that two more stars have auditioned for Bond - and they are easily the most high-profile actors to do so.
When the shortlist was announced, there was mention of a mysterious fourth candidate – and that unknown auditionee happens to be two actors, who have shaken up the casting race.
According to both Deadline and Variety, Nicholas Hoult and Robert Pattinson have had secret screen tests for Bond.
Hoult, 36, is best known for his roles in the X-Men franchise, Mad Max: Fury Road, Nosferatu and Superman, playing the evil Lex Luthor in the latter and in the upcoming sequel Man Of Tomorrow.
As for Pattinson, 40, the actor needs little introduction. Following his star-making turn in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the Twilight franchise, he has gone from strength to strength with roles in The Lost City of Z, High Life, The Lighthouse and Tenet. He is also the current Batman, having debuted as the Caped Crusader in Matt Reeves' The Batman in 2022. He is currently filming the sequel.
This year has been a particularly busy (and productive) year for Pattinson, as he starred alongside Zendaya in The Drama, played Antinous in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and portrayed American TV presenter Chris Hansen in Primetime. He will next star in Dune: Part Three, which is directed by none other than Canadian filmmaker and four-time Oscar nominee Denis Villeneuve – the director of the upcoming James Bond film. Many see this as an indication Pattinson has an advantage and is the new frontrunner to play 007.
Considering both Hoult and Pattinson are already two of Hollywood's established leading men, the news of their inclusion in the Bond race comes as a surprise.
The role of Bond usually makes the star, and rising performers are usually favoured. Sean Connery was a relative unknown before Bond; George Lazenby had never acted outside of a few ads; Roger Moore was a household name thanks to The Saint but hadn’t had a huge break on the big screen; Timothy Dalton had a great stage career but was not an established movie star; Pierce Brosnan was a Bond hopeful for years but remained best known for his role as Remington Steele in the TV show of the same name... Only Daniel Craig had some major big screen credentials with memorable roles in Road To Perdition, Layer Cake and Munich... However, it was Casino Royale that made him a bona fide leading man.
With this in mind, and the fact that already established stars command higher salaries, many thought that Amazon would be banking on a relatively unknown actor in his late 20s or early 30s rather than someone who is already in demand.
The recent news of Hoult and Pattinson's screen tests now give weight to the counter argument that Amazon, who took creative control of the Bond franchise last year from long-serving producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, may buck the trend and cast a more known actor. However, this would mean that the public won’t be discovering a “new” performer and will have to work harder to dispel memories of other high-profile roles.
Speaking to The Independent earlier this year about the casting process, retired casting director Debbie McWilliams – who helped cast Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Criag as Bond - said that “it is absolutely essential that [Bond] retains a total enigma,” adding: “We want to know as little about them personally as possible, because that’s what spies are."
“We don’t need to know where he goes shopping or who his parents are, or where he lives… He’s licensed to kill, and we have to believe that he can do that. If you don’t, then you’ve lost the audience.”
So, could the current Batman also be the next James Bond?
The internet seems pleased about the possibility - frequently pointing out that Pattinson's role in Tenet was akin to an audition tape for Bond.
Check out some of the reactions below:
Not long to find out now... While an exact timeline for finalizing casting is not known, Bond 26 producer Amy Pascal revealed in August that "the end of the year is a good bet" for the official announcement.
“We are being really, really methodical," said Pascal in August. "Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, 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.”
Bond 26 will be directed by Denis Villeneuve, who recently teased at the LACMA Art + Film Gala that he would not be commenting on the casting, but that he was "having a great time".
He said on stage at the event (as per Variety): “For many years, LACMA has been a temple for me. Tonight feels like home, and to express my gratitude. With the blessing of my new friends at Amazon, I will reveal to you tonight who will be the next James Bond..." Villeneuve then said: “The actor who will play the next James Bond is… And I will stop right now because Amy Pascal is about to have a heart attack."
Bond 26 is being written by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight and it will be the first Bond film since Amazon took full creative control over the franchise from longtime 007 custodians Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson.
Production on the next Bond film is expected to kick off in 2027, with a release planned for 2028 at the earliest.
