- Primary Subject: Industry reports reveal the preliminary James Bond screen-test contract terms offered to Robert Pattinson.
- Key Update: While Amazon MGM has not yet officially cast the next 007, new insider reporting reveals Robert Pattinson negotiated a shorter, three-film test deal with a significantly higher salary than fellow contenders, Josh O'Connor and Jack Lowden.
- Status: Rumored
- Last Verified: November 13, 2026
- Quick Answer: Robert Pattinson is not officially cast as James Bond yet, though reports state his test deal includes higher pay and fewer films (three) than rival finalists.
The search for the next actor to step into James Bond's tuxedo is heating up ahead of Amazon MGM Studios' expected casting announcement before the end of the year.
While no official decision has been made for Bond 26, a new insider report reveals Robert Pattinson's rumored 007 test deal may land him the least yet most expensive films.
Robert Pattinson's James Bond Deal Reportedly Had the Least Yet Most Expensive Films
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According to a new report from Puck's Matthew Belloni, all five finalists who screen-tested for Denis Villeneuve and producers David Heyman and Amy Pascal were required to sign preliminary option deals before stepping in front of the camera. However, the terms were far from equal.
While fellow finalists Josh O'Connor (The Crown) and Jack Lowden (Slow Horses) were required to commit to four James Bond films if selected, Pattinson reportedly negotiated his commitment down to just three movies.
Meanwhile, specific terms for remaining finalists Nicholas Hoult (Superman) and Callum Turner (Masters of the Air) were not disclosed. Hoult and Pattinson were rumored to be late additions to the casting process.
Because Pattinson and his latest works command A-list box office stature, his contract appears to carry a higher salary structure than the lesser-known candidates on the shortlist.
Sources familiar with the deal noted that Pattinson's test contract was by far the hardest to close, leading insiders to speculate that the studio and filmmakers would not have jumped through so many hoops unless they were seriously invested in landing him.
Could Robert Pattinson Seal the Deal? How He Outranks His Competition
Even though Amazon MGM has yet to make an official announcement, there are several key factors why Pattinson appears to hold a greater advantage over O'Connor, Lowden, Turner, and Hoult.
Pattinson recently worked with Bond 26 director Denis Villeneuve on Dune: Part Three (arriving in December), and Villeneuve has publicly praised Pattinson's recent performances, reportedly pushing to see him screen-test in London in late October.
Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult were brought in to test after the initial wave of O'Connor, Lowden, and Turner. Bringing in established stars late in the process suggests producers were not fully sold on handing a major franchise reboot to an untested leading man.
Original Bond steward Barbara Broccoli was reportedly a fan of Pattinson for 007 years prior to his casting in The Batman.
Now, with The Batman Part II nearing the end of filming ahead of its February 2028 release (and the uncertainty swirling around whether director Matt Reeves will return for a third installment amid DC Studios' internal restructuring), Pattinson's schedule could soon open up for the reported three-film run as Agent 007.
Bond 26 doesn't have a release date or title as of yet.