Credit: MGM/EON ProductionsDaniel Craig’s Bond era officially ended with No Time to Die (2021), the fifth film in his long-running 007 series, which also included Casino Royale (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Skyfall (2012), and Spectre (2015).
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While his 2006 debut gave us a Bond who had just earned the 007 status, Craig still embodied the same kind of suave, steely-eyed, globe-trotting assassin we’d been accustomed to seeing on the big screen ever since Sean Connery donned the tux in the very first Bond film, Dr. No (1962).
Of course, Craig’s portrayal was grittier, bloodier, and more grounded in reality than any Bond that had come before him, whether Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, or Pierce Brosnan. And although Casino Royale was also an origin story, the film still carried all those familiar Bond beats, which helped audiences connect with Craig from the beginning.
Amazon MGM’s James Bond Film
Now, Amazon MGM Studios is developing a Bond film that’s set to launch a new continuity, which will be unrelated to Daniel Craig’s series and will cast a new actor as the iconic character.
The film is being directed by Denis Villeneuve (Dune) and written by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders). Earlier this month, the studio confirmed that the hunt for the next 007 to lead the new film reboot had officially started, with casting director Nina Gold reportedly leading the search.
Meanwhile, a new Bond has already arrived, although he’s not the one you might have expected.
Who’s the New James Bond?
007 First Light is the latest Bond video game, starring Irish actor Patrick Gibson, previously best known for playing the young Dexter Morgan in the Paramount+ series Dexter: Original Sin (2024).
“Follow James Bond as a young, resourceful, and sometimes reckless recruit in MI6’s training program, and discover an origin story of the world’s most famous spy,” the synopsis states.
But while the game is described as “an origin story,” it has little in common with Casino Royale.
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A Very Different Kind of 007
007 First Light centers on a 26-year-old Bond during the early years of his MI6 training, following his journey as he “earns the number,” as the official marketing for the game puts it.
But while all the things we’ve long come to associate with the iconic agent are very much present – weapons, gadgets, faraway locations, his MI6 team, and larger-than-life enemies – at the same time, several notable changes have been made to the character that make him much less familiar to fans, some of which are likely to frustrate players and fans alike.
If you’re hoping to see Bond frolicking with women, chasing down his enemies in cool cars, and sipping his favorite drink, a vodka martini (shaken, not stirred) in his sharpest tux, all the while those iconic themes play, you might be sorely disappointed.
But perhaps one of the most frustrating aspects of the game is that you’re only allowed to properly take down your enemies when the words “License to Kill” appear on screen (yes, really).
Of course, none of this is to suggest that 007 First Light doesn’t otherwise feel like an authentic Bond experience. The game even has a dedicated song by Lana del Rey with an accompanying title sequence, which rolls after the first mission, just like one of the films themselves. And there are plenty of other moments throughout the game that reward your patience.
Even so, this is not your traditional James Bond. Although this should come as no real surprise. Not only has First Light been marketed as an origin story from the beginning, but last December, IO Interactive’s Martin Emborg, narrative and cinematic director for the game, said the developers made a conscious choice to update the character’s portrayal for a modern audience.
As Emborg put it in an interview with MonsterVine when asked if we will still see Bond as a “smooth talker” and an occasional womanizer, “Yeah, you will.” However, he added that he won’t be “your old school Bond” and will “reflect modern values”:
Speaking to GamesRadar+ at Summer Game Fest earlier this year, IO Interactive’s franchise director Jonathan Lacaille explained that the developer’s decision to set the game during a period of Bond’s life that had “not been covered much” was “the [most] exciting part” of the project.
With that said, there are now plans to turn 007 First Light into a series, following its hugely successful launch, which saw it sell nearly 3 million copies in its first two weeks of release. So we may see Gibson return to the role and continue his journey to the Bond we’re more familiar with.
IO Interactive has also unveiled upcoming DLCs with a “Year One Content” overview, which confirms new TacSim challenges, gadgets, and story modes and missions. Watch the video below:
Should We Be Worried About the Bond Reboot?
Still, with all that said, with Amazon MGM Studios now overseeing the Bond franchise, should fans be worried about the upcoming film reboot?
Last year, Prime Video altered several classic James Bond film posters displayed on its streaming platform, with guns digitally removed from the character’s hands, a decision that sparked backlash from 007 fans who saw it as unnecessary tampering with franchise history and identity.
However, we know very little about the upcoming film.
Recently, Amazon MGM Studios chief Mike Hopkins shared an update on the status of the project. During an appearance on Variety‘s Strictly Business podcast, he outlined plans for Bond‘s “new chapter,” confirming that it’s still in the early stages of development and that the creative team is busy trying to figure out how to make the franchise “relevant” for a modern audience “for a long period of time” amid the current streaming era.
There’s no release date for the untitled James Bond reboot.
007 First Light is now available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows.
The game also stars Priyanga Burford (M), Kiera Lester (Miss Moneypenny), Naomie Ackie (Miss Roth), Alastair Mackenzie (Q), Lennie James (John Greenway), Gemma Chan (Selina Tan), and Lenny Kravitz (Bawma).
Have you played 007 First Light yet? If so, what are your thoughts on the new James Bond? Do you have any concerns about Amazon MGM’s new film? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
