Yes, the Robert Pattinson James Bond screen test has reportedly happened — Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have both tested to play 007. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news late on Friday, November 6, 2026, saying Pattinson, 40, had quietly tested for the role, and Deadline and Variety then matched the report with Hoult as the second big name. That gives Amazon MGM five finalists: Pattinson, Hoult, Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, and Josh O’Connor. Nothing is official yet, but a decision could come before Thanksgiving.
Table of Contents
Quick Facts
| Who tested | Robert Pattinson, 40, and Nicholas Hoult, 36 |
| Who else tested | Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, and Josh O’Connor |
| When the tests happened | October 24, 2026, London |
| Who broke the news | The Hollywood Reporter, late Friday November 6 |
| Who confirmed it | Deadline and Variety, citing insiders |
| Director | Denis Villeneuve, 26th Bond film |
| Writer | Steven Knight, creator of Peaky Blinders |
| Casting director | Nina Gold |
| Producers | Amy Pascal and David Heyman |
| Studio | Amazon MGM since February 2025 |
| Decision expected | Before Thanksgiving, late November 2026 |
| Production start | 2027 start, 2028 target |
| Last Bond actor | Daniel Craig, six films |
How the News Broke
The story arrived in stages, and the stages matter, because they show how closely guarded this search has been. The Hollywood Reporter was first, late on Friday, November 6, reporting that Pattinson had tested for 007, citing multiple sources. Deadline followed with its own report from insiders, saying Pattinson and Hoult had both joined Lowden, O’Connor, and Turner in recent screen tests. Variety confirmed both names as well. Three major trades pointing the same way within hours is rare before an official announcement.
The most entertaining part came before the names did. The Hollywood Reporter Heat Vision newsletter had teased two mystery actors, calling them notable and established names, above the level of the still rising likes of Callum Turner and company. Deadline reporter Justin Kroll then teased the pair on X with a riddle: one stars in a 2026 Amazon pic, and another likes to wear a mask. The first clue pointed to Hoult, whose Amazon MGM film How to Rob a Bank reaches theaters on November 13. The second pointed to Pattinson, who plays Batman.
Robert Pattinson James Bond: The Five Finalists
Five actors have now reportedly screen-tested, and the Robert Pattinson James Bond choice will say a lot about what Amazon MGM wants Bond to be next.
Robert Pattinson is the biggest name on the list, and the most surprising. He is 40, British, and already one of the most famous franchise actors alive. He played Edward Cullen in Twilight, then rebuilt his career with serious dramas before taking on Batman in 2022. Casting him as Bond would put two of the biggest hero roles in movies on the same actor at the same time, which is bold, and a practical problem for both franchises.
Nicholas Hoult is the other big name, and his story has a neat twist. He was the runner up to Pattinson for the role of Batman, so the two men have already competed for one famous cape. Now they are competing for the most famous tuxedo instead. Hoult, 36, played Lex Luthor in the 2025 Superman film, and he stars in How to Rob a Bank, which opens on November 13. Hoult recently welcomed twins with his wife Bryana Holly.
Callum Turner was one of the first three names linked to the role, along with Lowden and O’Connor, and he has stayed in the conversation ever since. He reportedly arrived at Bray Studios in Berkshire, England, on October 30 for a screen test. He has also picked up a famous backer, because former Bond star Pierce Brosnan has spoken in favor of him. Pierce Brosnan backs Callum Turner as the next James Bond, and that support from a past 007 carries weight with fans.
Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor complete the five. Lowden is a Scottish actor known for serious drama and period work, and O’Connor is an English actor who won wide praise as a young Prince Charles in The Crown. Both fit the older Bond pattern of a talented British actor on the rise. Their presence suggests the studio has not settled on one type of Bond yet.
How the Screen Tests Worked
The tests were planned with unusual care. They were originally set for earlier in October, but they were pushed to the end of the month because of scheduling conflicts. The idea was to run them around the same time, so the filmmakers could compare the actors fairly, and they took place on the weekend of October 24 in London.
The Hollywood Reporter has said the process includes three elements: camera presence, stunts, and dialogue. The three parts cover how the actor looks on screen, whether he can handle the physical side of Bond, and whether he can deliver the lines with charm, menace, and humor. An actor can be strong in one area and weak in another, so the test is designed to find the one who can do all three.
There is one small disagreement in the reporting. Deadline insiders said a fifth test was added at the 11th hour, though it is unknown which actor was that last addition. Kroll later tweeted a different version, saying his source told him Hoult and Pattinson were always in the final four tests, and that O’Connor was the 11th hour addition. Both versions agree on the five names, and both agree the tests happened.
What Amazon MGM Is Building for Bond 26
The casting search is only one part of a much bigger change. This is the first Bond film made since Amazon bought the creative rights from the Broccoli family in February 2025. For decades, the Broccoli family controlled the series. Now Amazon MGM Studios is in charge, and the new team is starting almost from scratch.
The team is strong. Denis Villeneuve is directing, and he is one of the most respected filmmakers working today, with Dune and Blade Runner 2049 behind him. Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, is writing the script. Nina Gold, one of the best casting directors in the business, is running the search. Amy Pascal and David Heyman are producing. That team helps explain why the casting search has taken so long.
The plan, as reported, is for production to begin in 2027, with a target release in 2028. There has been no Bond film since No Time to Die in 2021, and Daniel Craig left the role after six films, so the wait for his successor has already lasted five years.
One early report said the filmmakers wanted a relatively unknown young British actor, and that plan now appears to have shifted. The shortlist includes two global stars in Pattinson and Hoult, alongside three rising actors, and that mix suggests the studio is open to a bigger name than it first planned. Readers who follow Villeneuve will enjoy our profile of Timothee Chalamet, the star of his Dune films.
The Conflicting Signals
For all the agreement on the five names, there are still conflicting signals around the edges. Variety has reported that Harry Styles has had talks with executives about the role, and that Theo James has not been ruled out. Neither man is reported to have screen-tested, so they sit one step behind the five finalists.
There is also one bold claim fans should treat with care. Showbiz 411 writer Roger Friedman has said Turner is the new James Bond, but no major trade has confirmed that, and the trades still describe the race as open. Until Amazon MGM makes an announcement, any claim that the part is already decided should be read as a rumor, not a fact. What is solid is this: five actors tested, the tests happened in late October, and a decision is expected soon.
When We Will Know
The timeline is the clearest part of the story. Kroll has said fans should expect a decision before Thanksgiving, which falls in late November. Other reports say a decision is expected by late November, and producer Amy Pascal has called an announcement before the end of the year a good bet. The wait is nearly over, and the Robert Pattinson James Bond announcement should come within weeks, not months. Filming is meant to start in 2027, so the actor needs time to train for the physical demands of the role.
Has Robert Pattinson screen-tested for James Bond?
Yes, according to multiple reports. The Hollywood Reporter broke the news late on Friday, November 6, 2026, citing multiple sources, and Deadline and Variety then matched the report. Pattinson, 40, reportedly took a break from filming The Batman Part II in London to do the test. There is no official confirmation yet.
Who are the five actors who screen-tested for James Bond?
The five reported finalists are Robert Pattinson, Nicholas Hoult, Callum Turner, Jack Lowden, and Josh O’Connor. Early reports named Turner, Lowden, and O’Connor first, and Pattinson and Hoult joined them later. The tests reportedly took place in London on the weekend of October 24, 2026.
When will the next James Bond be announced?
A decision is expected by late November 2026, possibly before Thanksgiving in the United States. Deadline reporter Justin Kroll has said to expect a decision before Thanksgiving, and producer Amy Pascal has called an announcement before the end of the year a good bet.
Who is directing the next James Bond film?
Denis Villeneuve is directing the 26th Bond film, with Steven Knight writing the script, Nina Gold running the casting search, and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing. It is the first Bond film made since Amazon bought the creative rights from the Broccoli family in February 2025. Production is expected to begin in 2027, with a target release in 2028.
Sources
- Men’s Journal report on Pattinson and Hoult testing for James Bond
- Parade report on the James Bond contenders and screen tests
- Cosmic Book News report on the Pattinson and Hoult screen tests
- Fiction Horizon report on the final race to play James Bond
Final Thoughts
The race to play James Bond has just become the most interesting casting story in Hollywood. A week ago, the shortlist looked like three rising British actors. Now it includes Batman and Lex Luthor, and the whole contest feels bigger, stranger, and more open than anyone expected. Pattinson would bring global star power, Hoult a cool screen presence, and the other three a fresher face with room to grow into the role.
Whoever gets the part will step into a role that has defined careers and outlasted generations of actors. Daniel Craig left big shoes to fill, and the five-year wait since his last film has only raised the stakes. The decision is expected within weeks, and when it comes, it will be one of the biggest entertainment stories of the year. Until then, fans keep guessing, which is exactly how a Bond casting search is supposed to feel.
