A new James Bond contender has been confirmed, and they would be the youngest 007 ever, barely old enough to drink Bond’s famous martinis. The search for the next James Bond actor has been ongoing ever since Daniel Craig’s fifth and final portrayal in No Time to Die (2021), though things took a turn in February 2025 when Amazon acquired creative control of the franchise. Subsequently, Dune director Denis Villeneuve was hired to helm the next installment, with Steven Knight writing the script. Now, Variety reports that Louis Partridge is in contention for the role of James Bond, who, at just 22 years old, would be the youngest actor to take on the role by a considerable margin. By comparison, Sean Connery was 32, Daniel Craig was 38, Pierce Brosnan was 42, and Roger Moore was 45.

Louis Partridge in House of Guinness pouring a drink into a glass while looking at someone

Most recently, Louis Partridge starred in Netflix’s series House of Guinness, created and written by Steven Knight, which follows the family behind the titular brewing company in 19th-century Ireland. In September 2025, Partridge talked to Variety about how he might impress Knight at the premiere and show off his 007 skills, who, at the time, had just been announced as the writer of James Bond 26. Partridge said, “Maybe I could be at the bar, swilling a martini, saying nothing.”

Louis Partridge is known for Netflix’s Enola Holmes movies, Netflix’s upcoming Pride and Prejudice series, and a recent relationship with pop star Olivia Rodrigo.

Six months later, whatever Partridge did or said to Knight may have worked, as rumors and speculation suggest that he is now in contention for the role. That said, as with most things involving Bond, this remains nothing more than rumors and speculation for the time being. Efforts to get an official confirmation from Partridge’s representatives or Amazon MGM Studios have reportedly gone nowhere. However, the Partridge rumor does align with the broader industry chatter that the next James Bond will be significantly younger than past incarnations. Following another unconfirmed report earlier this year, the term “fresh-faced” has been widely repeated, with many insiders suggesting that the age target is being pushed down considerably.

However, it’s unclear just how young “fresh-faced” is meant to be. At 22, Partridge is notably younger than other frequently mentioned contenders – currently including Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Harris Dickinson. In fact, Partridge is barely of the age to have cocktail preferences (famously “a martini, shaken not stirred”), let alone being legally allowed to order one.

Once again, Partridge being named as a contender is largely informed guesswork and is far from a confirmed fact. Few cinematic questions have generated as much constant speculation as who will be the next James Bond.

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