At this point, choosing the next James Bond is beginning to resemble the search for Scarlett O’Hara. Every new contender seems to bring a decision closer, until another name enters the picture and shakes everything up. Now it is Robert Pattinson’s turn: according to The Hollywood Reporter, he screen-tested to play 007. Apparently, being Batman still leaves some room in his schedule.

The actor is among the contenders for the role, alongside Callum Turner, Jack Lowden and Josh O’Connor. The publication also identifies Nicholas Hoult as another name emerging in the selection process, adding an intriguing detail to the race: he previously competed with Pattinson to play Batman.

The news, published on Friday, November 6, adds a considerable surprise to a race that was already keeping fans busy. According to the outlet’s sources, the screen tests took place over the weekend of October 24. THR had reported that four, possibly five actors were being considered, but only three names had been identified until then. Amazon declined to comment.

Pattinson has not been cast, but his involvement changes the conversation. At 40, he already leads one of cinema’s most recognizable franchises, which makes his presence particularly unexpected. Taking on James Bond as well would mean balancing two characters requiring commitments spanning several years, while placing a globally familiar face at the center of 007’s reinvention.

There is, however, a connection that helps explain why his name deserves attention: Denis Villeneuve. The next Bond director worked with Pattinson on Dune: Part Three, and, according to the report, the experience went well for both. That does not amount to a confirmed preference, but it gives his candidacy an existing working relationship that the two have already had the opportunity to test.

And let’s face it, Tenet takes on a different meaning in this context. Christopher Nolan has already placed Pattinson in a world of espionage, elegance, and action that makes it easy to imagine him with a license to kill. His career since Twilight, built between major productions and collaborations with directors such as Robert Eggers and the Safdie brothers, also offers an interesting combination of popular recognition and a willingness to embrace less comfortable characters.

The casting process comes at a singular moment for the franchise: this will be the first Bond film under Amazon’s creative control, with Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing. Heyman, incidentally, has been part of Pattinson’s story since Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

For those following Callum Turner as one of the names in the race, the field has therefore just become more competitive. Pattinson has been screen-tested; the decision remains open. But the possibility of the same actor playing Batman and James Bond is already enough to make this one of the more intriguing turns in the search for Daniel Craig’s successor.