I don't think Amazon will follow the formula strictly. There will be (and I expect) some experimentation. But I think Amazon treats the elements that they inherited the copyright to such as the gunbarrel with great care.
Absolutely. Prior to CR, Craig appeared to be a pretty lean, wiry guy with some decent muscle definition (check him out in the Lara Croft film and Layer Cake). With a good trainer and special diet plan, adding muscular bulk w/o adding body fat could realistically done in 3 months.
This is one time where the suites and lawyers will make those who love those Bond film traditions/canons happy. My guess is Amazon and their army of lawyers will be gearing up to make things very difficult for anyone else who tries to make their own Bond film in 2035. It should also be a motivation for Amazon not to mess this up and keep the fanbase from clamoring for someone else to make their own Bond film.
I agree with emtiem that if they are now looking for their new Bond they must have a script, perhaps not finalised, but sufficiently finished and agreed to that they know what the new Bond is, and so can start the casting process.
As Number24 says, casting CR took 'forever' and I think we'll see that again. While Barbara wanted Craig from the get go, I don't think there is a 'slam dunk' choice this time.
The public domain matter is once again much more complex than it seems. 'James Bond 007' is a trademark which exclusively belongs to Amazon MGM (every new novel published by IFP is under this licence), which means no other film industy company has the right to name a character 'James Bond 007' in a movie without permission. This will remain the same after 2035, the only difference will be that if a rival producer wants to make a LALD adaptation, they will be allowed to under the very condition the main character is not 'James Bond 007'. Cubby and Harry really did the deal of the century in 1961.
The same. If you look at some recent books like the Kim Sherwood ones, you can read the specific mention 'Double O, James Bond and 007 are registered trademarks of Danjaq LLC, used under licence by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd'.
The people from Amazon MGM have nothing to worry about, even after 2035.
As has been summised elsewhere on this forum, Knight's past comments hinted at a return to the tone of the 1960s Connery era and in this interview he says his favourite Bond is Connery. He also talks about Fleming writing about what he knows, and its a famous saying for writers, 'write what you know,' and Knight is talking, he says, to UK special forces and presumably intelligence people. That would indicate Knight is going for a more grounded Bond, so Bond26 is not going to be TSWLM or DAD.
Yep, I’ve been saying this for a while. And while I think people might legally be able to make a film of Casino Royale featuring James Bond once it’s out of copyright, one feature of owning the trademark is that you’re legally not allowed to make something ‘which could be confused by consumers as being the product of the trademark holder’. Hence why any Winnie The Pooh or Mickey Mouse films made since they moved out of copyright have been horror films etc. Make an actual cartoon for kids and Disney could be all over you.
So I really don’t think anyone’s going to risk it. Yes, we might get another spoof of CR like in ‘67, or an all-female Japanese musical version, but we won’t get a straight up adaptation of the book in any way similar to any Bond film Eon/MGM will have made up to that point.
I saw the title "Second to none" in the other place. I like it! Both Bond and the villain probably see themselves as second to none, but there is a double meaning. Someone (maybe everyone, in the doomsday clock sense) may be a second from being nothing, as in dead.
Steven Knight told Screen he did research with "the SAS and even more secret outfits" for Bond 26. So what outfits are even more secret than the SAS? MI6? MI6 E Squadron? And what can this news tell us? My guess is that Knight wants to incorporate som real spycraft or special ops details into the movie. If the film itself will have a more realistic tone is hard to say for certain. A spy can use real world techniques to break into a hollowed-out volcano. What do you think?
I hope they won't do an origin story. CR had an origin story, so has First Light, Batman Begins was the year before CR, and I think that sort of thing was more in fashion back then and people may start getting tired of origin stories now.
I really don't understand how this has come to be seen as a necessity. Dr No would not have been improved by having flashbacks to Connery's Bond in school, detailing the psychological development of his character. We immediately accept him and his role in the world.
I want it to be the start of a story with Bond; I don’t mind if it’s an origin or not, but it should be a beginning. I’m looking forward to seeing how First Light starts his story.
If they cast a young actor as Bond they can plant hints about his past such as close conections in the navy. Friends serving in the navy, deep knowledge of the navy etc. Characters can also mention that Bond hasn't been in MI6 for long. "It was a program we had a few years ago, before you joined". That's all that's needed.
It depends on the story they’re telling. A start to his story doesn’t have to start in the Royal Navy (or earlier) but it might, depending on what they want to say.
But it will be a start to his story in some form or another, that’s just inevitable.
Starting with Bond still in the navy at the start would be one of the better ways to do an origin story, but from what I understand First Light is already doing that.
I was more thinking about the fact First Light already deals with the concept of origin story, so couldn’t there be a risk of repetition, especially if the game proves to be a huge hit with a young audience who aren’t necessarily familiar with Bond?
As the only actor known to have auditioned for Bond26 is Tom Francis and he won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2024, I went through the past winners back to 2018 to see if I could find actors that might have the look, and acting chops to be Bond.
David Shields
Nominee for best actor in this year's Laurence Olivier Awards
Comments
I don't think Amazon will follow the formula strictly. There will be (and I expect) some experimentation. But I think Amazon treats the elements that they inherited the copyright to such as the gunbarrel with great care.
Absolutely. Prior to CR, Craig appeared to be a pretty lean, wiry guy with some decent muscle definition (check him out in the Lara Croft film and Layer Cake). With a good trainer and special diet plan, adding muscular bulk w/o adding body fat could realistically done in 3 months.
This is one time where the suites and lawyers will make those who love those Bond film traditions/canons happy. My guess is Amazon and their army of lawyers will be gearing up to make things very difficult for anyone else who tries to make their own Bond film in 2035. It should also be a motivation for Amazon not to mess this up and keep the fanbase from clamoring for someone else to make their own Bond film.
It's been reported for some time, in various media outlets, that Amazon are looking at 2028 as the release year.
Here's one example of that reporting referencing 2028.
I agree with emtiem that if they are now looking for their new Bond they must have a script, perhaps not finalised, but sufficiently finished and agreed to that they know what the new Bond is, and so can start the casting process.
As Number24 says, casting CR took 'forever' and I think we'll see that again. While Barbara wanted Craig from the get go, I don't think there is a 'slam dunk' choice this time.
The public domain matter is once again much more complex than it seems. 'James Bond 007' is a trademark which exclusively belongs to Amazon MGM (every new novel published by IFP is under this licence), which means no other film industy company has the right to name a character 'James Bond 007' in a movie without permission. This will remain the same after 2035, the only difference will be that if a rival producer wants to make a LALD adaptation, they will be allowed to under the very condition the main character is not 'James Bond 007'. Cubby and Harry really did the deal of the century in 1961.
What about 'James Bond' without the '007' bit?
The same. If you look at some recent books like the Kim Sherwood ones, you can read the specific mention 'Double O, James Bond and 007 are registered trademarks of Danjaq LLC, used under licence by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd'.
The people from Amazon MGM have nothing to worry about, even after 2035.
Steve Knight interview about Bond
As has been summised elsewhere on this forum, Knight's past comments hinted at a return to the tone of the 1960s Connery era and in this interview he says his favourite Bond is Connery. He also talks about Fleming writing about what he knows, and its a famous saying for writers, 'write what you know,' and Knight is talking, he says, to UK special forces and presumably intelligence people. That would indicate Knight is going for a more grounded Bond, so Bond26 is not going to be TSWLM or DAD.
Yep, I’ve been saying this for a while. And while I think people might legally be able to make a film of Casino Royale featuring James Bond once it’s out of copyright, one feature of owning the trademark is that you’re legally not allowed to make something ‘which could be confused by consumers as being the product of the trademark holder’. Hence why any Winnie The Pooh or Mickey Mouse films made since they moved out of copyright have been horror films etc. Make an actual cartoon for kids and Disney could be all over you.
So I really don’t think anyone’s going to risk it. Yes, we might get another spoof of CR like in ‘67, or an all-female Japanese musical version, but we won’t get a straight up adaptation of the book in any way similar to any Bond film Eon/MGM will have made up to that point.
I saw the title "Second to none" in the other place. I like it! Both Bond and the villain probably see themselves as second to none, but there is a double meaning. Someone (maybe everyone, in the doomsday clock sense) may be a second from being nothing, as in dead.
That’s cool, yeah.
Or an 'R rated' Quentin Tarantino Bond movie.
Steven Knight told Screen he did research with "the SAS and even more secret outfits" for Bond 26. So what outfits are even more secret than the SAS? MI6? MI6 E Squadron? And what can this news tell us? My guess is that Knight wants to incorporate som real spycraft or special ops details into the movie. If the film itself will have a more realistic tone is hard to say for certain. A spy can use real world techniques to break into a hollowed-out volcano. What do you think?
I think we're getting a 21st century FRWL with a Bond origin story.
I hope they won't do an origin story. CR had an origin story, so has First Light, Batman Begins was the year before CR, and I think that sort of thing was more in fashion back then and people may start getting tired of origin stories now.
Preach. Reboots have been done to death. Let's just have a James Bond adventure.
After NTTD there has to be a reboot, I don't see any other way. However I don't want Bond26 to be an origin story.
If they hire an actor in their twenties then it’s pretty much heading that way…
I really don't understand how this has come to be seen as a necessity. Dr No would not have been improved by having flashbacks to Connery's Bond in school, detailing the psychological development of his character. We immediately accept him and his role in the world.
Coul be, but I hope it's just a reboot starting with Bond on a mission.
I want it to be the start of a story with Bond; I don’t mind if it’s an origin or not, but it should be a beginning. I’m looking forward to seeing how First Light starts his story.
If they cast a young actor as Bond they can plant hints about his past such as close conections in the navy. Friends serving in the navy, deep knowledge of the navy etc. Characters can also mention that Bond hasn't been in MI6 for long. "It was a program we had a few years ago, before you joined". That's all that's needed.
It depends on the story they’re telling. A start to his story doesn’t have to start in the Royal Navy (or earlier) but it might, depending on what they want to say.
But it will be a start to his story in some form or another, that’s just inevitable.
Starting with Bond still in the navy at the start would be one of the better ways to do an origin story, but from what I understand First Light is already doing that.
Although there's nothing suggesting such a thing for the moment, do you guys think the game will be connected with Bond 26 in terms of universe?
Same Bond, same M,Moneypenny etc.? No.
I was more thinking about the fact First Light already deals with the concept of origin story, so couldn’t there be a risk of repetition, especially if the game proves to be a huge hit with a young audience who aren’t necessarily familiar with Bond?
As the only actor known to have auditioned for Bond26 is Tom Francis and he won a Laurence Olivier Award in 2024, I went through the past winners back to 2018 to see if I could find actors that might have the look, and acting chops to be Bond.
David Shields
Nominee for best actor in this year's Laurence Olivier Awards
https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2026/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7104160/?ref_=mv_close
His IMDB doesn't give his age but the first thing he is in is in 2015, so he is probably in his early to mid-thirties.
Charlie Stemp
Nominee for best actor in a musical in 2024 Laurence Olivier Awards
Tom Francis won this award that year.
https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2024/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10425675/?ref_=fn_t_1
Dino Fetscher
Nominee for best supporting actor in 2022 Laurence Olivier Awards
He'll be 40 in 2028, but he has the right look.
https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2022/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5776744/
Hugh Coles
Nominee for best supporting actor in a musical in 2022 Laurence Olivier Awards
Not sure about his age, his first role on IMDB is 2011, so probably in his mid-30s.
https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2022/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm6128410/?ref_=mv_close
Jac Yarrow
Nominee for best supporting actor in a musical in 2020 Laurence Olivier Awards
He may still be in is 20s.
https://officiallondontheatre.com/olivier-awards/year/olivier-awards-2020/
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10791545/
Good list, but I haven't seen any of them act. Anyway it's nice to see other names than the usual.
Watching The James Bond Dossier podcast https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfncRwozmzU
the actor Harry Lawtey was mentioned. I'd never heard of him, but here is his IMDB and he is 30 years old this year and has some experience.