Pattinson and Hoult Screen-Tested for James Bond, Villeneuve Search Widens

Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have screen-tested to play the next James Bond, two of the highest-profile names yet to enter the casting race for Denis Villeneuve's upcoming 007 relaunch. Both British actors auditioned for the director, according to the report, joining a field that already includes Callum Turner, Josh O'Connor and Jack Lowden.

The two late contenders bring serious franchise credentials. Pattinson currently stars as Batman for DC Studios and is an alum of the "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" franchises. Hoult plays Lex Luthor in DC's Superman movies and led the 2010s "X-Men" prequel trilogy. He next stars in the Amazon MGM Studios film "How to Rob a Bank," which opens in theaters on Friday, November 13.

Pattinson has one more card to play: his existing relationship with Villeneuve. He stars in the filmmaker's upcoming epic "Dune: Part Three," which means the director has already seen him carry a major studio tentpole.

Who is running the new Bond?

Amazon MGM Studios tapped Villeneuve as the franchise's next director last year, with "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight hired to write the script. Getting Bond 26 off the ground has been a top priority for the property's new stewards, producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman.

Since Villeneuve's appointment, nearly every 30-something British actor's name has circulated in the U.K. and U.S. press. Rumored top contenders include Callum Turner, Josh O'Connor and Jack Lowden. Variety has learned that Harry Styles has had discussions about the part, and Theo James also hasn't been ruled out.

What do the former Bonds and their peers think?

Pierce Brosnan, who played Bond in the 1990s, recently gave his stamp of approval to Turner. Gary Oldman threw his weight behind Lowden, his "Slow Horses" co-star. Oldman also claimed that the next James Bond has already been picked — but no official casting announcement has been made, and Amazon declined to comment on the casting rumors.

What does this change for the franchise?

Whoever wins the role takes up the mantle after Daniel Craig's 15-year run, which ended the previous era of the series. The choice of lead will set the tone for Villeneuve's version of the character and signal how far Amazon MGM intends to push the property after acquiring creative control.

The Pattinson and Hoult auditions suggest the studio is weighing proven franchise leads rather than unknowns, even as younger character actors like Turner and Lowden stay in contention. With Villeneuve, Knight, Pascal and Heyman all attached, an official announcement now looks like the only remaining step before Bond 26 moves into production.