Villeneuve Says the Next James Bond Casting Is Moving Fast

Denis Villeneuve says the search for the next James Bond is well under way. Speaking to GQ, he said casting is "in the process," and added, "I am pushing the gas," a way of saying he is pressing ahead quickly.

The clearest sign of progress comes from Deadline, which reports that Robert Pattinson and Nicholas Hoult have both screen-tested for the role. A screen test is a filmed audition, often with the actor performing a scene so the filmmakers can see how they look and sound on camera. Deadline also reports that Jack Lowden, Josh O'Connor and Callum Turner reportedly tested as well.

The same report says Nina Gold has closed a deal to become casting director on the next film. A casting director finds candidates, runs the auditions and works with the director on who gets seen. Gold has worked on major British and international productions, and her hiring signals that the search is being organised from the top down.

The next film will be the first since Daniel Craig played 007 in 2021's No Time to Die. Craig's exit leaves the role open for the first time in fifteen years, and Bond has changed hands many times before. Pierce Brosnan first took the part in 1995's GoldenEye and returned for three more films, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough and Die Another Day, according to Deadline.

For fans, the practical question is timing. A casting search can run for months, and a screen test is only one step between an audition and a signed contract. Villeneuve's remark suggests the director wants to move on that timetable rather than wait for it.

Until a studio or the filmmakers make an announcement, the names above remain candidates who have been tested, not actors who have been hired.