Two new English actors have entered the fray to become the next James Bond.
Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult are understood to have taken part in screen tests for the 007 role.
The actors have entered the race with Josh O’Connor, Jack Lowden and Callum Turner.
Pattinson, 40, began his movie career as a teenager in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire before appearing in the Twilight franchise.
He has already worked with Denis Villeneuve, the next Bond director, on the upcoming Dune: Part 3.
Pattinson also plays Bruce Wayne in Matt Reeves’ The Batman franchise and recently starred as Antinous in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey.
His Bond audition was said to have been held in London last month, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Hoult, 36, who also began his career as a child in About a Boy and starred as Lex Luthor in DC Comics’ latest Superman movie, is believed to have taken part in the London screen tests.
Pierce Brosnan, the fifth actor to play the spy, previously backed Turner as the next Bond. The 73-year-old, who starred in four Bond films from 1995 to 2002, said all the contenders were strong actors with “a voice and a physique and a presence on film”.
Gary Oldman said he would like to see Lowden, his Slow Horses co-star, land the role. Speaking last month, the veteran actor said he had his “fingers crossed” for Lowden, adding that he believed the new Bond had already been chosen.
Lowden, 36, said rumours that he was in the running for the role were “flattering”, but he did not confirm or deny whether he had auditioned.
In an interview with GQ, the Scottish actor said: “It’s nice to be mentioned – for any role – and I’m just not really going to add to the noise.”
Meanwhile, O’Connor, who played Prince Charles in The Crown, is also thought to be a strong contender.
The casting process comes 21 years after Daniel Craig took over the role. He starred in five Bond films before retiring from the franchise in 2021.
While the role is often handed to a relative newcomer, this will be the first Bond movie made under Amazon MGM Studios, which paid more than £790m ($1902.78b) for “creative control” of the franchise from the Broccoli family in 2025.
Valerie Leon, who appeared as a Bond girl in two films alongside Sir Roger Moore and Sir Sean Connery, said she feared the franchise would not be uniquely British after the Amazon purchase.
Amazon appointed Villeneuve, a Canadian, to helm the franchise last year, while Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight has been hired to write the script for the 26th official James Bond film.
The next Bond is expected to be announced before the end of the year.
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