Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult Join James Bond Screen Test Roster

Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have screen‑tested for the next James Bond. Both actors are British and have the résumé to carry a global spy franchise. Pattinson is currently playing Batman for DC Studios and previously appeared in the "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" series. Hoult is known for playing Lex Luthor in the recent DC Superman films and starred in the 2010 "X‑Men" prequel trilogy. Pattinson also worked with director Denis Villeneuve on the upcoming "Dune: Part Three", giving him a direct link to the new Bond director. Last year Amazon MGM Studios hired Villeneuve to direct the Bond 26 film and brought "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight to write the script. Producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman are overseeing the project and have made getting Bond 26 off the ground a top priority. Rumors have named several other 30‑something British actors, including Callum Turner, Josh O'Connor and Jack Lowden. Variety reports that Harry Styles has discussed the role and Theo James has not been ruled out. Former Bond star Pierce Brosnan publicly backed Turner, while Gary Oldman supported Lowden and claimed the new Bond has already been chosen, though no official word has been released. Amazon declined to comment on any of the casting talks. ## Context Casting speculation reflects the franchise’s shift to a younger generation of actors and the involvement of high‑profile directors like Villeneuve, signaling a fresh creative direction for the long‑running series.