Film News
It’s probably the most asked question among fans: Who will be the next 007? Now a name is making the rounds that would fundamentally change the film series.
April 28, 2026, 04:30April 28, 2026, 04:30
Jennifer Doemkes / t-online
It has been clear since 2019: Daniel Craig will not appear on screen as James Bond again after “No Time to Die”. After 15 years as a secret agent, the 58-year-old has officially given up the legendary role and was seen in the cinema as 007 for the last time in 2021. Since then, the rumor mill has been bubbling: Who will inherit the five-time Bond actor?
One of the first names mentioned around the speculation was Idris Elba. For a long time, the Hollywood star was considered the fans’ favorite candidate. At the bookmakers, however, “Avengers” star Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Henry Cavill, known from “The Witcher” and Superman, were always in the lead. Names like Tom Hardy, Gerard Butler, Cillian Murphy and James Norton were also mentioned. Most recently, “The White Lotus” actor Theo James and “Masters of the Air” star Callum Turner were considered favorites to succeed Bond.
Youngest James Bond of all time?
But now a new name is making the rounds – one that would fundamentally change the film series. According to the US industry magazine “Variety”, Louis Partridge should have a real chance of landing the role of the world’s most famous secret agent. The Brit, who is best known as Lord Tewkesbury from the Netflix films “Enola Holmes”, is only 22 years old – and therefore significantly younger than any Bond actor before him.
Louis Partridge is only 22 years old.Image: keystone
According to “Variety”, Louis Partridge had already indicated interest in the 007 successor at the premiere of the Netflix series “House of Guinness”, in which he plays the lead role. By the way, he worked with Steven Knight – who was hired as a screenwriter for the upcoming Bond film.
Amazon has acquired “James Bond”.
However, Amazon has the final say in the choice. After the “James Bond” films were a family affair for over 60 years, Producers Barbara Broccoli and her stepbrother Michael G. Wilson gave the rights to the US tech giant. Since then, the project has been under the direct observation of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
According to a company spokesman, he is “closely involved in all aspects of further development”. The new bond “must be a perfect fit. The script has to be sensational, with spectacular action scenes and iconic Bond girls. At the same time, it has to seem exciting and fresh for a new generation” – which would speak for a young actor.
Jeff Bezos has made the new Bond film his passion project.Image: keystone
The legendary character of James Bond goes back to the novel “Casino Royal” by Ian Fleming, published in 1953. In October 1962 “007 hunts Dr. No» the first part of the film series, which is still successful today, in cinemas, back then with Sean Connery in the leading role. In 1983 he was seen for the last time as Bond in “Never Say Never Again”.
George Lazenby was only allowed to take on the role of secret agent once. Roger Moore then played the title character in seven parts between 1973 and 1985. He was succeeded by Timothy Dalton in the late 1980s, before Pierce Brosnan took over until 2002. Bond number six then became Daniel Craig. He starred in five 007 films between 2006 and 2021.
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