Robert Pattinson Reportedly Wants a Bigger Payday and Fewer James Bond Movies Than His 007 Rivals

Robert Pattinson might be playing by his own rules in the race to become the next James Bond, and Hollywood apparently has no problem bending a few of its own to keep him interested.

According to a new report from Puck News, the The Batman star has reportedly negotiated a much sweeter deal than his competition for the iconic 007 role.

While other James Bond candidates have agreed to commit to four movies if cast, Pattinson has managed to cut his potential commitment down to three. He's also reportedly asking for a lot more money.

Puck's Matthew Belloni explained just how differently Pattinson is being treated compared to the other contenders, saying:

"[Josh O']Connor and [Jack] Lowden, for instance, were required to sign up for four Bonds, if chosen. Pattinson, on the other hand, was able to lower that commitment to three (plus a whole lot more money than the others), given his stardom."

It was also reported that Pattinson's agreement was very "difficult to close", which raises an interesting question. Why would the people running the franchise go through all that trouble unless Pattinson was already one of their top choices?

Of course, nothing has been officially decided, and the competition for the next James Bond is still very much alive.

Alongside Pattinson, the actors reportedly screen-tested for the role include Jack Lowden from Slow Horses, Josh O'Connor from The Crown, Callum Turner from Masters of the Air, and Nicholas Hoult, who recently played Lex Luthor in Superman.

Pattinson and Hoult reportedly entered the casting process later than the others, suggesting that the filmmakers still haven't reached a consensus on who should take over the legendary British spy.

One person who could help tip the scales in Pattinson's favor is director Denis Villeneuve, who is taking charge of the next James Bond movie.

Villeneuve recently acknowledged that discussions about casting the new 007 are ongoing, but he's also made it clear that Pattinson has his attention. The two have already worked together on the upcoming Dune: Part Three, and the filmmaker recently admitted that he can't stop thinking about Pattinson's movie Primetime.

That's certainly not a bad person to have in your corner when you're competing for one of the biggest roles in Hollywood.

There's also the matter of Pattinson's existing superhero commitments. He's still playing Bruce Wayne in The Batman: Part II, but with the lengthy gaps between films and the changes happening at DC Studios, there's speculation that his time as the Dark Knight could end after the sequel.

That could leave him free to trade the Batmobile for an Aston Martin, although taking on another major franchise would still be a significant commitment.

It’s interesting how much leverage Pattinson has. Most actors would probably jump at the opportunity to play James Bond, but Pattinson seems perfectly comfortable telling the studio exactly what it'll take to get him into that role.

Three movies, a bigger paycheck, and the freedom to move on sooner than everyone else. Not a bad deal if he can get it. Whether that makes Pattinson the favorite remains to be seen, but the reported negotiations certainly suggest that the people making the next Bond movie are taking him seriously.

Personally, I think Pattinson could make an interesting 007. He's proven that he can carry a massive franchise while still making strange, unpredictable creative choices, and Bond could benefit from an actor willing to bring something different to the character.

The bigger question is whether Villeneuve and the studio are ready to give him the job.