Who will be the new James Bond? The two Hollywood stars who secretly auditioned

Fans are excited about the next James Bond film. New rumors are being heard every week. However, according to reports from two major Hollywood media outlets—Deadline and Variety—two stars have joined the race to play Bond, which has turned the entire casting process upside down. 

According to reports, two of Hollywood's most popular established actors—Robert Pattinson (40) and Nicholas Hoult (36)—have secretly auditioned for the role of James Bond, bringing the number of candidates on the shortlist for the role to five. 

Does Pattinson have any extra benefits?

While Nicholas Hoult has made his mark in franchises like X-Men, Mad Max and Superman, Robert Pattinson's name is almost everyone's mouth. The actor, known for 'Harry Potter' and 'Twilight', is now one of Hollywood's most successful stars and the current 'Batman'.

This year has been a busy and successful one for Pattinson. He has worked with directors like Christopher Nolan and Denis Villeneuve. In particular, Pattinson is scheduled to star in the upcoming James Bond movie, 'Dune: Part 3', directed by Denis Villeneuve, the director of 'Bond 26'. Due to this, many believe that Pattinson is slightly ahead of the others in the race for Bond and is the new favorite. 

Breaking tradition? 

There's an old rule in the James Bond series—give someone new a chance. From Sean Connery to Pierce Brosnan—most Bond actors were unknown to many people before they were cast. But Daniel Craig was the first to enter the Bond franchise with some recognition.

Producers usually prefer new and lesser-known faces. This is because established stars demand higher remuneration and their old characters have an impact on the audience. However, after taking creative control of the Amazon Studios franchise, will they break the old pattern and choose a megastar this time? This is the question on everyone's lips now. 

The future of the movie and its possible release date

Debbie McWilliams, a former Bond casting director, believes that it's best to keep the audience guessing about the actor's personal life to create a sense of mystery. It remains to be seen whether Pattinson or Hoult, the current Batman, can maintain that mystery.

According to the producer, the movie 'Bond 26' will be directed by Denis Villeneuve and the screenplay will be written by Steven Knight, the creator of the popular series 'Peaky Blinders'. 

Producer Amy Pascal said the name of the next James Bond could be officially announced by the end of this year. The film is scheduled to begin shooting in 2027 and be released around 2028.