Batman as Bond? Robert Pattinson Reportedly Screen-Tested for 007

Robert Pattinson has reportedly screen-tested for the role of James Bond, adding another high-profile name to the search for Daniel Craig’s successor. The actor, who plays Bruce Wayne in DC’s The Batman franchise, is among the latest performers linked to the next 007 film, which will be directed by Denis Villeneuve.

Pattinson’s reported audition places him alongside Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor, who had previously emerged as leading candidates for the role. The screen tests reportedly took place in London in late October, with Pattinson joining the process while filming The Batman: Part II. His involvement was reported on November 6, although Amazon MGM Studios has yet to announce a casting decision.

Nicholas Hoult has also emerged as another reported contender. The actor, whose credits include Superman, Nosferatu and The Great, was reportedly among the performers who screen-tested for the part. His name adds another potential candidate to a selection process that had initially focused on a smaller group of actors.

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Pattinson’s inclusion is particularly notable given his existing association with another major fictional hero. He made his debut as Batman in Matt Reeves’ 2022 film, taking on a darker interpretation of the character. The sequel, The Batman: Part II, is currently in production, with Pattinson returning as Bruce Wayne.

His reported Bond audition also brings his recent collaboration with Villeneuve into the conversation. The actor worked with the filmmaker on Dune: Part Three, the third instalment of the science-fiction franchise, scheduled for release on December 18, 2026. Villeneuve is now preparing to direct the next James Bond film, although their previous work together does not confirm that Pattinson has an advantage in the casting process.

Pattinson’s career has taken several turns since his international breakthrough as Edward Cullen in the Twilight films. He subsequently appeared in independent productions including Good Time and The Lighthouse, taking on characters that differed considerably from his earlier franchise role. His credits also include Christopher Nolan’s Tenet and The Batman.

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A Bond casting would give him another opportunity to lead a major film franchise. However, the role comes with its own demands, particularly for an actor expected to carry a series that has remained a major part of cinema for more than six decades.

Daniel Craig’s final appearance as the British secret agent was in 2021’s No Time to Die. He played Bond in five films, beginning with Casino Royale in 2006. His departure left the franchise facing its first major casting decision in years, with audiences waiting to see who would take over the character.

The upcoming 26th Bond film will be directed by Villeneuve, whose previous work includes Arrival, Blade Runner 2049 and the Dune films. Steven Knight, the creator of Peaky Blinders, has been hired to write the screenplay, while producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman are attached to the project.

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The production also marks a change in the franchise’s management. Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who oversaw the Bond films for decades, ceded creative control to Amazon MGM Studios. The move gives the studio greater authority over the direction of the series and its future productions.

Despite the growing list of reported candidates, no successor to Craig has been officially announced. Pattinson’s screen test does not mean he has been offered the role, and the studio has not confirmed the identities of its final choices.

For now, the actor remains among the reported contenders for 007. Whether the man currently playing Batman will become the next James Bond is a decision audiences will have to wait for Amazon MGM Studios to reveal.