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The race to become the seventh James Bond is heating up, with Robert Pattinson emerging as a surprise late contender. The news caught many fans off guard, as the Bond role has traditionally gone to unknown or relatively lesser-known actors. Pattinson, however, has been an A-list star for years and is still playing DC superhero Batman. Having one actor lead two franchises as iconic as Batman and James Bond would be an extraordinarily rare move in Hollywood.
But Pattinson’s involvement is more than a rumor. The highly respected Hollywood outlet Puck has now reported additional details about his participation in the audition process.
(Image source: MGM)
According to Puck, Pattinson followed the same process as the other actors and signed a test deal rather than a formal contract to star in the film. His terms, however, were notably different. While other contenders would be committed to at least four movies if selected, Pattinson negotiated that number down to three. His deal was also reportedly the most difficult to close, underscoring the leverage his star power gives him compared with the other candidates. It also suggests that Amazon and MGM are genuinely interested in landing him. The studios could have pursued a less famous actor with fewer demands and an easier contract, but they still brought Pattinson in to test.
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Puck also examined why Amazon and MGM would break with tradition by targeting an established A-lister who is older than the previous six Bond actors were when they debuted in the role. For starters, creative control over the seventh Bond era no longer rests with longtime producer Eon Productions. Amazon took the reins through a reported $1 billion deal, ending the franchise’s decades-long creative stewardship under Barbara Broccoli and her family. Avoiding major stars had long been one of Eon’s guiding principles, but Amazon appears to have different priorities. With the theatrical market more unpredictable than ever, building the franchise around an unproven newcomer carries greater risk. Even an IP as powerful as James Bond may now need a recognizable star at the center.
Puck further reported that Broccoli had considered Pattinson as a potential successor to Daniel Craig before production began on Craig’s final Bond movie, "No Time to Die." Those plans were apparently abandoned after Pattinson landed the role of Batman.
via： Puck News