How to Celebrate James Bond Day As the Next 007 Remains a Mystery?
Arriving this weekend is James Bond Day, if you weren't aware – 5 October now stands as a international festivity honoring everything about 007, due to the fact it commemorates the day of the world premiere of the inaugural 007 movie, starring Sean Connery, back in 1962. Imagine it comparable to Star Wars Day, but with less creature costumes and a whole lot more elegant confidence.
A Muted Observance Now
Yet this time around, the advent of the 007 celebration is a bit anticlimactic. It's only been after Denis Villeneuve was announced to direct the next Bond film earlier this year, and even less time since Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight was brought on board to write the script. But there’s been little to no sign afterwards of the new 007 actually being revealed, and very little idea about the direction this iconic film series is headed. What remains is industry speculation through film industry sources implying that the creative team intend to cast a relatively youthful British actor, who might be non-white although not a woman, an established star, or anyone we’ve vaguely heard of.
Letdown for Oddsmakers
Undoubtedly, this represents unwelcome developments for the many online bookmakers which have making a pretty penny over recent months by attempting to persuade gamblers that it is a race between a shortlist of actors and that hunky guy in Saltburn with Australian origins.
Revisiting Newcomers
Notably, the last time the 007 series actually went for a total unknown was in 1969, when George Lazenby briefly took up the famous firearm. Before that, the original Bond had little recognition: he had taken several supporting roles and done a bit of acting and modeling gigs as well as working in physique competitions and dairy delivery in Edinburgh prior to accepting the starring part in the debut movie. The creative heads specifically didn’t want a household name; they wanted someone fresh that viewers would see as Bond himself, instead of a star in the role.
Repeating this trick may end up as a brilliant tactic, exactly as it was back in the sixties.
Impact of Villeneuve
However, bringing in Villeneuve involved means that there's no room for error in any way should the next 007 proves to be wooden. Amplifying the ridiculous devices and suggestive humor is no longer an option with a director like is a serious filmmaker specializing in cinematic genres best known for ponderous sci-fi epics where the dominant feature is the audience’s own existential dread.
A tough guy in formalwear … Daniel Craig in 2006’s Casino Royale.
Updated Vision for James Bond
And yet, in many ways, selecting this director provides clear signals we need to know regarding the upcoming era after Daniel Craig. It's unlikely there will be vehicles that disappear or sexual innuendos, and the return of Sheriff JW Pepper again shortly. All of this is, of course, absolutely fine assuming you enjoy your 007 with a modern twist. But it doesn’t tell us this new version on Britain’s suavest state-sponsored assassin will stand out against earlier agents who immediately preceded him especially if the upcoming phase doesn’t choose to set the narrative back to Ian Fleming’s original 50s and 60s setting.
Reinventing Each Era
Craig was instantly distinctive as a different type of stylish operative upon his debut in the franchise in the 2006 film, a bruiser in a dinner jacket who would never be caught dead in an invisible car, or exchanging suggestive lines with co-stars while handling explosives. He rendered Brosnan's tech-dependent charmer which recently was viewed by many as the best Bond since Connery, appear as an imitation Connery left too long in the microwave. This pattern is familiar. Lazenby succeeded Connery temporarily, Brosnan came after the overlooked Dalton, and the silly final Moore films came after the intense early Moore. Every era of 007 reshapes the previous, yet they are all in its unique manner the famous agent, deserving of a toast. It feels odd, during this year's the current 007 Day, that we are asked to celebrate an agent who remains unidentified.
