How Young Will Amazon Make James Bond?

“Maybe I could be at the bar, swilling a martini, saying nothing.”

So Louis Partridge told Variety just last year while discussing potential ways to impress Steven Knight at the premiere for “House of Guinness.”

At the time, Knight — who created the boozy Netflix show starring the fast-rising Brit as an Irish brewery heir — had just been unveiled as the writer of the 26th James Bond film, being directed by Denis Villeneuve. It represents Amazon MGM Studio’s major reboot of the spy franchise after the company acquired creative control from Eon. Partridge, like any actor with his eyes on arguably cinema’s most coveted role, was understandably eager to show off his finest 007 moves.

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Six months on and, whatever Partridge — also known for “Enola Holmes,” “Disclaimer,” Netflix’s upcoming “Pride & Prejudice” and a recent relationship with Olivia Rodrigo — did at the bar in front of Knight, rumors would suggest it paid off. Speculation has now reached Variety that he’s in contention for the job (and beyond simply being put on a bookmaker’s list)

Of course, as with almost anything regarding Hollywood’s most famous superspy that’s not come directly out of the mouths of its key creative team, it’s important to note that this is no more than speculation. Attempts to confirm with Partridge’s reps or Amazon MGM Studios have been as predictably futile as any Bond villain’s wildly-complicated plans for global domination.

The Partridge rumor does, however, align with widespread chatter that the incoming 007 will be much younger than previous Bonds. Following a (speculative, of course) report in Deadline earlier this year, the word “fresh-faced” has done the rounds, and many in the industry Variety has spoken to seem to be sure the age is being dialed down a few notches.

But just how fresh-faced are they going for? At 23-years-old, Partridge’s face is considerably fresher than that of every other name on the ever-evolving conveyor belt of likely candidates (a list currently led by Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Harris Dickinson). As many might note, he’s barely old enough to have developed a fussy preference over how his cocktails are mixed, let alone legally drink one.

Elordi, thought to have been a keen target for Amazon for some time, would already have been the youngest Bond at 28 years old. By contrast, Sean Connery was 32 when he started his tenure, Daniel Craig was 38, Pierce Brosnan was 42 and Roger Moore was 45 (and 57 when he signed off). Half a decade younger than Elordi, Partridge would throw the average down considerably more.

Turner — who recently shot to the bookies’ favorites following, yes, rumors — is 36, a good 13 years older. If the Bond team are considering someone as young as Partridge, is anyone in their mid-to-late 30s, or even in their 30s, off the menu? As one producer tells Variety: “Writing a film to be led by a 23-year-old is completely different to writing one for a 36-year-old — they’re just totally different.”

But an actor of Partridge’s age would offer producers some solid franchise longevity. Were he to do five to six Bond films over the next 15 or so years, he’d still be under 40 by the time he handed in his Walther PPK. With his star power still yet to hit A-list levels, he’d also be considerably less expensive than an Elordi or Taylor-Johnson.

If 23 is the rough age being considered, of known names, away from Partridge there’s a relatively small pool of British talent available (and reports earlier this year suggested Bond would be British). “Heartstopper” breakouts Kit Conner (22) and Joe Locke (23) would fit, as would Noah Jupe (21), riding a current wave thanks to the Oscar-winning “Hamnet” and the buzzy “Romeo and Juliet” West End stage production. But, unless they’re going for someone more unknown (a distinct possibility), that’s about it.

Again, this is mostly informed conjecture and nothing more than that. Never has there been a cinematic topic so fueled by speculation than who will next step into Craig’s blood-splattered 007 brogues (just ask Idris Elba, who has been batting off rumors for what feels like a lifetime).

And who started this particular bit of speculation? Could it have been someone in Partridge’s team or family? Riz Ahmed’s new semi-autobiographical satirical series “Bait” for Amazon that sees him play a struggling actor who seeks to boost his own Bond chances by ensuring he’s snapped by paparazzi leaving a (lousy) audition. Anything is possible.

Just to underline the how little we truly know about this, another name recently resurfaced in conversations as someone being “considered.” This time, it was 40-year-old James Norton.