Credit: Inside the MagicThe James Bond franchise is being reimagined yet again for longtime fans and a whole new generation. A full cinematic reboot under Amazon MGM is in the early stages of development, with Denis Villeneuve (Dune, Dune: Part Two) directing and Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) penning the screenplay.
But it’s not the only upcoming James Bond reboot, with one arriving in March 2026.
The Name’s Gibson, Patrick Gibson
The upcoming third-person action-adventure video game “007 First Light” from IO Interactive charts new territory for the iconic spy, promising to take players into the character’s early years — before he earns the “00” designation.
And bringing this younger James Bond to life is 30-year-old Irish actor Patrick Gibson (known for Dexter: Original Sin and The OA). Naturally, the reveal of Gibson as Bond, announced a few months ago, has ignited conversation and debate across social media, fan forums, and comment sections.
Fans React To New James Bond Actor
Criticism mostly relates to Gibson’s age. “Well it’s official. Someone younger than me is James Bond,” one fan writes on Reddit. “I’m not sure I’m fine with that.” But another points out that one-time actor George Lazenby “was 29” in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969).
Another fan has a lot to say about the casting: “This guy does not give James Bond vibes. I’m sorry, but this guy just isn’t it. He’s as bad as Lazenby. I know new Bonds all face a bit of rejection, but that usually stops by the first trailer. This guy’s first trailer had the opposite effect on me, where now I’m even less interested or impressed with this choice. He just looks too soft and not at all like the kind of guy that easily charms the villain’s girlfriend.”
Will “First Light” Share Its Continuity With the New Film?
Of course, not all the responses are negative, with some fans even hoping that Gibson ends up playing James Bond in the upcoming film reboot, which has yet to cast an actor (according to Deadline, the studio and the filmmakers won’t begin the search for the next 007 actor until Villeneuve wraps production on Dune: Part Three sometime next year).
“Okay, hear me out—after seeing the ‘007 First Light’ trailer, I’m fully convinced Patrick Gibson isn’t just voicing Bond for the game. He has to be the next proper James Bond in the films too,” one says. “Gibson looks the part, sounds the part, and with his recent performance as young Dexter, he’s clearly capable of taking on a psychologically complex role.”
But while many fans echo this sentiment, IO Interactive has confirmed that the game will exist in its own standalone continuity and not part of Amazon MGM’s film, just as another fan points out: “It’s very likely the IO Interactive will be its own continuity thus Gibson’s Bond will unlikely take part in a movie.”
The good news, however, is that “007 First Light” is intended to be the first chapter in a potential trilogy. In an interview with IGN last year, before the game was officially unveiled, IO Interactive boss Hakan Abrak said that there are hopes for the game to launch a “big trilogy”, with a James Bond that can be “built from the ground up for gamers,” one they can “call their own and grow with” throughout the course of more entries within the series.
Related: Meet the New James Bond in the Upcoming ‘007’ Reboot
Patrick Gibson Picks Up the PPK From Daniel Craig
Either way, Gibson is officially the next James Bond — at least in gaming. Still, he’s the first actor to don the tux and pick up the Walther PPK following Daniel Craig, who got a five-film run with Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, and No Time to Die.
Gibson recently spoke out about landing the role, talking specifically about his motion-capture performance, telling IO Interactive’s Global Brand Manager Laurine Deschamps that it’s a “pretty surreal experience”. He said, “Seeing yourself as a video game character is one thing, and then seeing yourself as James Bond is kind of even stranger,” adding, “But also just the likeness I was kind of taken aback by. I wasn’t fully expecting it to be look like me.”
A Brand-New MI6 Team Joins Patrick Gibson’s James Bond
The actor first revealed his casting earlier this year, as well as the rest of the MI6 team, saying in an announcement, “It’s thrilling to be bringing this character to life in the gaming world and I’m joined by an incredibly talented cast including Lennie James as Bond’s mentor Greenway, Priyanga Burford as M, Alastair Mackenzie as Q, Kiera Lester as Bond’s most fervent supporter Moneypenny, and Noémie Nakai as the enigmatic Miss Roth.” Gemma Chan also stars as a new character, Selina Tan, MI6’s Head of Tactical Simulation.
See Patrick Gibson in Action as 007
Regardless of where opinions land, “007 First Light” marks a clear pivot for the franchise — giving fans a chance to step into Bond’s shoes long before some of his most defining missions. If you want to learn more about the game while seeing Patrick Gibson in action as the MI6 spy, you can check out an official gameplay overview below, along with the trailer:
Gameplay Reveal:
Trailer:
When Is “007 First Light” Out?
“007 First Light” will be released on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows on March 27, 2026. The official website describes the game as “a thrilling narrative action-adventure game developed and published by IO Interactive,” inviting players to “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.”
Are you excited about playing “007 First Light”? What do you think about Patrick Gibson being cast as James Bond? Let us know in the comments down below!