❚ We may earn commission from links on this page. Our editorial is always independent (learn more).

Enola Holmes star on James Bond rumours: "The thought did cross my mind"

Could this rising star be our next 007?

(L-R) Louis Partridge, Millie Bobby Brown and Himesh Patel in Enola Holmes 3; in this scene, Tewkesbury and Enola are practicing firing pistols, while Watson watches on from the side

John Wilson / Netflix

Published: Sunday, 5 July 2026 at 12:11 pm

Subscribe to Radio Times: 10 weeks for £10, including the Christmas double issue

Enola Holmes star Louis Partridge has addressed the rumours that he's one of the stars in the running for James Bond, revealing that one particular scene brought the super-spy to mind.

Ad

Partridge has played Tewkesbury, the love interest to Millie Bobby Brown's sleuth, throughout the Enola Holmes trilogy, in addition to taking other roles in Apple TV's Disclaimer and Steven Knight's House of Guinness.

Indeed, the 23-year-old's proximity to Knight is probably helping to fuel rumours, given that the prolific Peaky Blinders creator has been tapped to script the hotly anticipated reboot.

Amazon MGM Studios is also thought to be seeking a younger actor to inherit the role, both to differentiate from the outgoing Daniel Craig and to secure the franchise's future for, potentially, decades to come.

Want to see this content?

This page contains content provided by Google reCAPTCHA. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as Google reCAPTCHA may use cookies and other technologies. To view this content, choose 'Accept and continue' to allow Google reCAPTCHA and its required purposes.

Accept and continue

Asked by The Independent about his Bond buzz, Partridge revealed with a chuckle: "Well, I did have to hold a gun for the first time [in Enola Holmes 3]."

"And I wore a three-piece suit," he continued. "I was feeling pretty good, myself. The thought [of Bond] did cross my mind, but let's see."

James Bond fans have been waiting years for a substantial update on the franchise's film fortunes, with several actors rising and falling in the odds since Craig bowed out in 2021's No Time to Die (it turned out, there was).

Watch trailer

In the meantime, the hysteria around Bond rumours has become so great that Riz Ahmed satirised it for Prime Video comedy series Bait – where Partridge's Enola Holmes co-star Himesh Patel played a frontrunner.

In real life, however, Patel has been less optimistic about his chances, telling Radio Times in 2024 that it would be "silly" to have asked his The Franchise director and Bond alum Sam Mendes for casting tips.

Amazon MGM Studios announced in May that the exhaustive Bond audition process was "underway," but that it would not comment further until the "time is right".

In addition to Partridge, widely touted contenders include Callum Turner (Masters of the Air), Jacob Elordi (Frankenstein), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (28 Years Later) and Harris Dickinson (Babygirl).

Enola Holmes 3 is available to stream on Netflix. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.

Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.

Ad

Add shows to your watchlist on the Radio Times: What to Watch app – download now for daily TV recommendations, features and more.

Authors

Black and white cut-out portrait headshot of David Craig, smiling against a lime green background.

David CraigSenior Drama Writer

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.

Ad

Ad

Get the Christmas double issue

Too much to watch at Christmas? Let Radio Times do the choosing to find something the whole family will enjoy.

Subscribe by 3 Dec

Loading...

Ad

Loading...