Robert Pattinson has crashed the race for the next James Bond, joining a six-man shortlist that has reshuffled fan expectations for who will inherit the Walther PPK.
The expanded lineup emerged over the weekend after a previous four-man shortlist leaked naming Jack Lowden, Callum Turner, Josh O’Connor, and a “mystery actor” now revealed as Nicholas Hoult, 35. Two additional reports then dropped major names: reports said Harry Styles, 31, is “in talks” for the role, while reports said that Hoult had tested alongside Pattinson, 39, who became available due to a pause in filming The Batman: Part II.
The reboot marks a franchise first, with Amazon MGM taking control of the spy property and Denis Villeneuve set to direct the inaugural installment with the new 007. Villeneuve’s casting history has become a key talking point in evaluating contenders, given his track record of working with established heavyweights across films like Prisoners, Sicario, and Arrival.
Pattinson’s sudden entry has immediately shifted online consensus. A tweet assessing the field declared: “The race for Bond is so fun because Callum Turner definitely has the looks for the role, while Josh O’Connor is the far better actor, but then there is just Robert Pattinson who blows this entire line up out of the water.”
O’Connor, 34, initially faced the most resistance among the original names. His proponents now argue his work in Challengers, Knives Out, La Chimera, and The Crown demonstrates both the sex appeal and the acting range to redefine the character for a modern era, even without the traditional Bond silhouette.
Lowden, whose six-season run on Slow Horses showcased his spy credentials, had emerged as the early “clear favourite” online. His natural Scottish accent offers a throwback to the character’s roots, though his relatively lower profile compared to O’Connor or Pattinson remains his primary drawback.
Hoult’s inclusion comes after a string of high-profile near-misses. He reportedly lost the Batman role to Pattinson, the Superman role to David Corenswet, and the childhood Harry Potter role to Daniel Radcliffe. His credits include Skins, The Menu, and The Great.
Turner, 34, who has appeared in Green Room and Masters of the Air, faces skepticism about whether his acting caliber matches Villeneuve’s established standards. Styles, the former One Direction star, carries the weakest acting resume of the group, with Dunkirk cited as his best performance and Don’t Worry Darling drawing criticism that Florence Pugh outperformed him.
The original four-man shortlist leaked before expanding to six, with Hoult’s identity as the mystery name confirmed only in the latest reports. The expanded field has intensified debate about whether the franchise needs a traditional Bond archetype or should embrace a more unconventional interpretation under Villeneuve’s direction.
Pattinson’s existing relationship with Villeneuve through Dune: Part Three, combined with his widely praised turn in Tenet, has fueled speculation that his casting could derail plans for a third Batman film. Fans of that franchise now face the possibility that his commitment to 007 could indefinitely shelve the caped crusader.
The next Bond film will also carry historical weight as the first in which the character serves a king, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022 and the accession of Charles III.