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 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.”
Last year, Amazon MGM Studios tapped Villeneuve as the franchise’s next director, with “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight hired to write the script. Getting Bond 26 off the ground has been a top priority for the property’s new stewards, producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman.
Since then, nearly every 30-something British actor’s name has been bandied about in the U.K. and U.S. press, with rumoured 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.
Pierce Brosnan, the Bond of the ’90s, recently gave his stamp of approval to Turner, while Gary Oldman threw his weight behind Lowden, his “Slow Horses” co-star. (Oldman also claimed that the next James Bond has already been picked, but no official casting announcement has been made.)
Amazon declined to comment on the casting rumours.
From Variety US
Love Film & TV?
Get your daily dose of everything happening in music, film and TV in Australia and abroad.
