> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://spyglass.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Bond, Batman Bond - URL: https://spyglass.org/pattinson-james-bond/ - Published: 2026-11-07T20:25:31.000Z - Updated: 2026-11-07T20:31:23.000Z - Description: The race for James Bond takes a turn... - Author: M.G. Siegler - Tags: james bond, film, amazon, denis villeneuve, entertainment 🔗 James Bond Shocker: Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult Emerge as Late Contenders for 007 • Variety It feels like it's time to [pick a Bond already](https://spyglass.org/the-next-james-bond/) as things are now getting a bit out of hand: > As [James Bond](https://variety.com/t/james-bond/?ref=spyglass.org) casting rumors heat up, a couple more A-list actors have entered the mix: [Robert Pattinson](https://variety.com/t/robert-pattinson/?ref=spyglass.org) and [Nicholas Hoult](https://variety.com/t/nicholas-hoult/?ref=spyglass.org) were among the stars who screen-tested to play the new 007. > > Both British actors certainly have the acting pedigree to play the suave spy, taking up the mantle after Daniel Craig’s 15-year run. They also have a keen awareness of what it takes to work in major franchise fare: Pattinson stars as Batman for DC Studios and is an alum of both the “Twilight” and “Harry Potter” franchises; meanwhile, Hoult plays Lex Luthor in DC’s Superman movies and starred in the 2010s “X-Men” prequel trilogy. He next stars in the [Amazon MGM Studios](https://variety.com/t/amazon-mgm-studios/?ref=spyglass.org) movie “How to Rob a Bank,” in theaters on Nov. 13\. Pattinson also has the Denis Villeneuve factor on his side, after starring in the filmmaker’s upcoming epic “Dune: Part Three.” Just when it [seemed like](https://spyglass.org/inklings-rip-salon-where-is-windows-12-rip-cybertruck-james-bond-betting-rip-kylo-ren/#:~:text=%5BFT%20%F0%9F%94%92%5D-,%F0%9F%A4%B5%E2%80%8D%E2%99%82%EF%B8%8F%20Bond%20Betting,-%E2%80%93%20Bonds%2C%20not) it was narrowed down to 3 ([or maybe a mysterious 4th](https://spyglass.org/the-next-james-bond/)), in come two very viable new contenders – one of which is arguably one of the biggest stars in the world right now thanks to an incredible 2026 streak of movies. Pattinson is not just the biggest name here, he's also probably the best actor in the running and that obviously has to matter... But in a weird way, his stardom may rule him out. Historically, stars haven't been made into James Bond, James Bond has made them into stars. Pattinson would be by far the biggest name to get the role at the time of tuxedo try-on. But, of course, the old powers that be with Bond, namely the [Broccoli](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert%5FR.%5FBroccoli?ref=spyglass.org) [family](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara%5FBroccoli?ref=spyglass.org), are [no longer in charge](https://spyglass.org/from-amazon-with-love/). So if Amazon – and really, [Villeneuve](https://spyglass.org/denis-villeneuve-james-bond-movie/), want Pattinson, they're likely to get Pattinson. Unless they feel some level of sticking-with-the-old formula. Personally, I wouldn't pick Pattinson because not only is he already well-established, he's already and concurrently playing *another massive character* in Bruce Wayne/Batman. In fact, it may have been [the stopping of *that* production](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/the-batman-part-ii-paused-as-filmmaker-matt-reeves-1236722514/?ref=spyglass.org) (due to a personal situation with the director Matt Reeves – something bad enough that [Steven Soderbergh has stepped in](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/steven-soderbergh-finish-batman-2-matt-reeves-stepped-away-1236913552/?ref=spyglass.org) to [finish the filming](https://spyglass.org/inklings-iphone-duo-fail-i-saw-everything-apple-meta-amazons-bee-netflix-shake-up/#:~:text=Steven%20Soderbergh%20stepping%20in%20to%20finish%20filming%20The%20Batman%20Part%20II%20for%20Matt%20Reeves%20%28who%20remains%20on%20personal%20leave%2C%20but%20hopes%20to%20come%20back%20for%20post%2Dproduction%29%20sounds%20like%20the%20best%20possible%20outcome%20of%20a%20rough%20situation.%20%5BDeadline%5D)) which allowed Pattinson to even enter the running here. Did Villeneuve decide he just wanted to see a few more options before they decide and so called up his *Dune* actor? As for Hoult, he'd seemingly be a pretty good pick – I've been a fan since he was in *About a Boy*, when he was... 11 years old! He's not nearly as well known as Pattison, but as noted, he too is already concurrently playing a major character in another massive bit of IP in the form of Lex Luthor in James Gunn's *Superman* franchise. Daniel Craig entered a couple other franchises during his Bond days – notably *Knives Out*, and *Girl with the Dragon Tattoo* (which didn't continue) – but that was *after* he was Bond. I'm not sure how much any of that actually matters, but it's a little weird. I do think there's a fairly high risk of Pattinson getting some backlash soon simply because he's seemingly *everywhere* (a good problem to have). People tend to get sick of actors who are everywhere, all the time. Becoming James Bond will not help with that! But all of this isn't even the strangest part of the story: > Since then, nearly every 30-something British actor’s name has been bandied about in the U.K. and U.S. press, with rumored top contenders including Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor and Jack Lowden. *Variety* has learned that Harry Styles has had discussions about the part, and Theo James, 41, also hasn’t been ruled out. Harry Styles may be a fine actor – he was good enough in *Dunkirk* (working with Villeneuve's good friend Christopher Nolan) – but come on, it would be *ridiculous* to cast him as James Bond. For as well known as Pattinson is, Styles is about 100x the star thanks to his music career. They can't be serious because it wouldn't be taken seriously. Theo James, on the other hand, is far more interesting. He's excellent in Netflix's episodic version of Guy Ritchie's *The Gentleman*. It has a very similar vibe to *Layer Cake*, which many credit with launching Craig into 007 status. His name has been [lingering](https://spyglass.org/denis-villeneuve-james-bond-movie/#two) for a while, but that show alone probably propelled him back into the conversation. The issue, of course, is his age. At 41, he wouldn't be the oldest Bond ever cast – Timothy Dalton was also 41, Pierce Brosnan was 42, and Roger Moore was 45! – but he would be the oldest of this crop and is seemingly older than what the idea originally was here. If you look at James, do you also have to bring Henry Cavill, at 43, back into the equation? Pattinson, by the way, is also 40 (though he definitely doesn't look it). Hoult is 36 – same as Lowden, Turner, and O'Connor – two years younger than Craig when he got the role, four years *older* than Sean Connery (and *six years* older than George Lazenby!). If I had to rank the main named contenders that I'd personally prefer right now,[1](#one) I'd go: 1. Jack Lowden 2. [Callum Turner](https://spyglass.org/back-to-basics-bond/) 3. Nicholas Hoult 4. Josh O'Conner 5. Robert Pattinson Again, I believe Pattinson is the best actor of the bunch, but he's just too well established. **But here's a twist**: [what if](https://x.com/ConnorF1878/status/2119018727484137640?ref=spyglass.org) he's cast as the *villain*? How [great](https://x.com/mgsiegler/status/2119120165090791508?ref=spyglass.org) would that be? Of course, that may not happen simply because of his turns in *The Odyssey* and (soon) *Dune* this year. But he's a good villain! 👇 ****Previously, on** ***Spyglass** **...** [The Race for Bond, James BondJack Lowden, Callum Turner... Josh O'Connor? And maybe Richard Madden? Oh my…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings-----Multi-43104a9e-8680-481a-a862-9ae4546adb37.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/007_-A-Mediterranean-Spy-Affair-3-bb770ffa-cc2d-4d1c-bc92-f33c2ae9ea26.png)](https://spyglass.org/the-next-james-bond/) [Back to Basics BondIs Callum Turner already 007?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings-----Multi-5584c061-89f8-4f72-a45f-595b467e9815.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/8e1a625e-0604-49ff-995f-af29b9303573-1-2ece2095-7b6c-45ce-a3bf-a485b4eeb4e8.png)](https://spyglass.org/back-to-basics-bond/) [A Bond for the (Correct) Ages?Aaron Taylor-Johnson Offered James Bond Role Reportedly will "sign contract this week" The Sun Howell Davies & Ellie Henman At last, some spy news on Spyglass. With the very real caveat that I'm linking to a UK tabloid (owned by News Corp) and that even they are couching this![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/icon/Spyglass-Rings-----Multi-88d0649f-a937-4af8-9766-dbf9c6af55bb.png)SpyglassM.G. Siegler![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/af/ca/afcaa655-46e2-45b8-889a-2881de5cce69/content/images/thumbnail/skynews-aaron-taylor-johnson_6494660-1-e8fc5a10-2e5a-44ee-971e-e2b343d76246.jpg)](https://spyglass.org/aaron-taylor-johnson-james-bond/) --- 1 I honestly [still think I like (also 36 year old) Aaron Taylor-Johnson](Aaron Taylor-Johnson) a lot, maybe even the most. Well, the *most* would be (40 year old) Richard Madden, but only since I've been on that for [*years*](https://x.com/mgsiegler/status/1055682957157920769?ref=spyglass.org)... [↩](#)