Robert Pattinson, Nicholas Hoult, Callum Turner and Jack Lowden are among the actors linked to the search for the next James Bond, as Amazon MGM Studios looks for Daniel Craig's successor. Now, director Denis Villeneuve has offered an update on the casting process.
Denis Villeneuve Addresses James Bond Casting
Speaking to GQ at a special screening and conversation at the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, Villeneuve acknowledged the pressure of taking on the franchise, saying, “We cannot f**k it up. We do not have the choice.”
He was then asked directly whether the role had been filled. “It's—it's in the process. In the process,” the filmmaker replied. “I am pushing the gas.”
Pattinson (The Batman) and Hoult (Superman, 2025) were recently reported to have screen-tested for 007. Variety reported that both actors auditioned for Villeneuve, joining Turner (Eternity) and Lowden (Slow Horses) among the names linked to the role.
Josh O'Connor has also been connected to the part, although his status is less clear. An anonymous source told The Daily Mail that the Disclosure Day actor had withdrawn from the running, according to The Independent. Neither O'Connor nor Amazon MGM has confirmed that account, and the studio has not announced an official shortlist.
- GQ also jokingly asked Villeneuve to blink once for Pattinson and twice for Turner. The director didn't give either actor a signal, leaving fans no closer to knowing who will become the next 007.
Villeneuve has not revealed when a decision will be made, but one of the film's producers, Amy Pascal, previously suggested that an official casting reveal could arrive before the end of 2026. Speaking to Deadline in August, she said “I would say the end of the year is a good bet.”
For now, the search continues, with no successor to Daniel Craig officially named.
Who would you like to see become the next James Bond? Let us know in the comments!
