Robert Pattinson Reportedly Emerges as Amazon’s Leading Choice for James Bond — And It Could Change Batman’s Future
The search for Daniel Craig’s successor has dragged on for years, and it has been full of false starts and rumor mills. Craig left the series in 2021 after ‘No Time to Die‘, and the next film will be the first released under the full control of Amazon MGM Studios, after Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson stepped down in 2025. Every name tossed around has carried the weight of a franchise reinvention.
Over the past few weeks, the shortlist has grown more famous by the day. Deadline reports that 5 actors have taken part in recent screen tests: Robert Pattinson, Nicholas Hoult, Jack Lowden, Josh O’Connor and Callum Turner. Neither the studio nor the filmmakers have confirmed the final shortlist.
Now a fresh report suggests Pattinson may be pulling ahead. Puck’s Matt Belloni reports that Amazon is eager for Pattinson to become the next 007. The details of his deal, and the reasoning behind the push, paint a picture of a studio that may be willing to break its own rules.
The pieces fit together more neatly than many expected. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report Pattinson’s screen test, which it said took place the weekend of Oct. 24. The test took place in London, where he is currently filming ‘The Batman: Part II’.
There is also a connection to the man in the director’s chair. Pattinson recently worked with Denis Villeneuve on ‘Dune: Part Three’, which is due in December. Writing for Puck, Belloni adds that Pattinson was always a name Villeneuve wanted to see.
Belloni also lays out a theory that explains why an established star is in the mix at all. The theory is that Villeneuve and producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal wouldn’t have brought in stars like Pattinson and Hoult if they were happy with the lesser-known candidates. Pattinson and Hoult tested after the others.
The money is where this gets interesting. According to Belloni’s sources, the test deals were not all the same. O’Connor and Lowden were required to sign up for 4 Bond films if chosen, while Pattinson lowered his commitment to 3, with a whole lot more money than the others, given his stardom. Belloni describes Pattinson as the one who is going to “cost a fortune.”
That shorter commitment matters. A 3-film deal gives Amazon a star while giving Pattinson more flexibility than his rivals. Belloni also reports that Pattinson’s test deal was so difficult to close that some involved wondered why the filmmakers would bother if they didn’t really want him.
There’s a bit of Bond history in the mix too. Broccoli reportedly liked Pattinson for Bond around the time ‘No Time to Die’ was gearing up to shoot, before he was announced as Batman, and then quickly lost interest. The role that once seemed out of reach may now be back on the table.
Bond and Gotham are tied together here. In the same piece, Belloni argues that without Matt Reeves, Pattinson is unlikely to continue as Batman. ‘The Batman: Part II’ is set to open Feb. 18, 2028. A Bond commitment would limit his availability for a possible third Batman movie.
It also isn’t a lock. Turner leads at William Hill and tops Kalshi, with Pattinson a close second there. Prime Video’s social accounts have been hyping Pattinson, though that teasing could lead nowhere.
At 40, Pattinson is older than the other contenders. He is older than Turner, Lowden and O’Connor, and the producers had reportedly been looking for a fresh face at one point. That would be an unconventional choice for a studio rebooting its biggest spy franchise.
Fans may not have to wait long. Producer Amy Pascal has said an announcement by the end of the year is “a good bet.” Deadline suggests a decision could come by the end of November, potentially before Thanksgiving on Nov. 26, though that remains an expectation rather than a confirmed date.
Villeneuve has told GQ the casting process is moving quickly, and he played coy when asked about Pattinson. Amazon MGM has declined to comment. Until someone at Amazon actually says the words, everything here stays in the realm of reports.
If Pattinson does land the role, it would mark one of the most surprising career turns in franchise history, from Gotham’s Dark Knight to Her Majesty’s secret service.
Do you think Robert Pattinson would make a great James Bond, even if it means potentially ending his run as Batman?
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