The casting for Bond 26 is well underway, which has significantly ramped up speculation about who will become Daniel Craig’s successor. Amazon MGM Studios publicly confirmed in May that the search for the next 007 had begun under the direction of acclaimed casting director Nina Gold (known for Game of Thrones and The Crown). The studio is reportedly searching for a “fresh face” in their late 20s to early 30s to take on the lead role, as the producers want an actor who can realistically carry the James Bond franchise for at least a decade, evolving the titular character across multiple movies beyond the release of the initial reboot.
The team behind Bond 26 are wiping the slate clean after No Time to Die, as Craig’s swan song acted as a hard reset, allowing them to reinvent the iconic MI6 agent from the ground up. Screenwriter Steven Knight has already teased a “better, stronger, and bolder” protagonist stepping into this new era – though who exactly will be taking up the mantle remains a mystery. Heavily rumored favorites include Jacob Elordi, Harris Dickinson, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and frontrunner Callum Turner, who recently spoke out on the casting rumors. However, another actor who is reportedly in contention for the role could give them all a run for their money.
It was revealed this week that the producers behind Bond 26, together with director Denis Villeneuve, have started to inform talent about whether they have been successful in making the next round of auditions, which are expected to take place in August. The finalized list of names is, of course, confidential, but one contender that has recently emerged as a prime candidate is Louis Partridge. The British actor, who is best known for his breakout role as the charming Viscount Tewkesbury in the hit Netflix film Enola Holmes and its sequels, has risen through the ranks to become a hot new favorite for the highly coveted 007 role.
Louis Partridge as Tewkesbury in Enola Holmes 3John Wilson/Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
During a recent red carpet interview with Variety at the world premiere of Enola Holmes 3, Partridge directly addressed the James Bond casting speculation. When asked if he had ever pictured himself in the running to play 007, Partridge responded candidly, saying, “No, no. Not yet, at least. But that’s something to keep in mind.” The reporter told him, “We named you as a top candidate,” to which Partridge smiled and said, “Wonderful,” expressing his gratitude for the endorsement before quickly ending the conversation.
At 23 years old, Partridge would be the youngest person ever to portray the famous 007 agent, putting him in a prime position to anchor multiple films over a period of 10 years or more. Not only is he younger than any other actor who has played Bond before (as highlighted in the table below), he is also not as advanced in years as the other rumored contenders for Bond 26: Jacob Elordi (28), Harris Dickinson (29), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (35), and Callum Turner (36), aligning with reports that the next outing could be an origin story.
Past James Bond Actors
Age at Debut
Sean Connery
32
George Lazenby
29
Roger Moore
45
Timothy Dalton
41
Pierce Brosnan
42
Daniel Craig
38
It shouldn’t be too long before we find out who will be playing the iconic spy in future installments, as Amazon MGM Studios has confirmed that development on the next era of the 007 saga has kicked into high gear. However, there is no official release date for the movie yet, and principal photography is not expected to start until early 2027, as Villeneueve must first complete his press and production responsibilities for Dune: Messiah. Consequently, a theatrical release in late 2028 or 2029 is likely to be the target for James Bond 26.