The anticipated Bond 26 has yet to cast a new actor in the beloved role, but the producers of the still-developing project can learn a lot from the previous seven actors who’ve already portrayed the suave MI6 agent. James Bond is one of the most universally recognizable onscreen spies in pop culture, and audiences have gotten used to seeing new versions of him that have similarities and differences to who came before. His slick tuxedos, effortless charisma, and uncanny wit have made him an icon, which puts pressure on ensuring Bond 26 freshly reboots 007 again with a new actor now that Daniel Craig’s run is over.
While there have been plenty of James Bond actors through the decades, each actor in the film adaptations has brought something fresh and unique to the legendary secret serviceman. James Bond creator Ian Flemming envisioned him as a smooth operator above anything else, but every actor’s interpretation in their debut movies helped to reshape the audience’s perception of the character and keep the series alive and well. While it’s currently anyone’s guess as to who will play James Bond next in Bond 26, the producers behind the new movie can learn something important from all seven previous Bond actors.
7 Sean Connery, Dr. No (1962)
Late Scottish actor Sean Connery was the first person to bring the poised MI6 agent to life. Despite Dr. No being the first film adaptation of the now legendary character, Connery perfectly encapsulated all the traits and characteristics in the original source material that make Bond so memorable. One of the most important things about Dr. No is that it set the stage for how to properly adapt a novelization into a film. With Bond 26 set to be a reboot, the movie can learn from Dr. No how to properly adapt a new version for modern audiences that stays true to Ian Flemming’s creation.
6 David Niven, Casino Royale (1967)
David Niven’s Casino Royale is unlike most movies in the franchise in that it was essentially a parody of the genre – and as such, featured the likes of many prominent comedic actors. Bond 26 could make the bold decision to follow in Casino Royale‘s footsteps by infusing jokes that force its audience to reexamine the spy genre similar to how the Kingsman franchise did. Irrespective of what style of humor, Bond 26 could differentiate itself from the majority of movies in the franchise by making the audience laugh a little more and think more about the genre’s clichés, stereotypes, and repeated missteps.
5 George Lazenby, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969)
George Lazenby’s interpretation of Bond is unique in that Lazenby had a lot of say regarding the character’s portrayal in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. While EON Productions wanted to continue the trend of having Bond utilize an array of crazy gadgets, Lazenby was more interested in improving Bond’s personality and making the stakes of the movie’s plot more enticing. This is certainly something modern audiences would appreciate more in Bond 26 as the perpetual inclusion of CGI and expensive special effects don’t have the same appeal as they once did. Writing a compelling story with well-thought-out plot points would help make Bond 26 fresh if executed properly.
4 Roger Moore, Live and Let Die (1973)
Roger Moore’s James Bond debuted in 1973’s Live and Let Die to widespread acclaim as audiences appreciated the actor’s somewhat campy and light-hearted approach. While Moore had plenty of success in other roles prior to being cast as James Bond, his transition into an international star happened through the iconic role. There are a lot of familiar faces who could play Bond in Bond 26, but Live and Let Die demonstrated that casting a fresh face as opposed to an established A-lister has the potential to improve the character and create a new star. A new lesser-known actor leading Bond 26 would help introduce audiences to the new take.
3 Timothy Dalton, The Living Daylights (1987)
In addition to Timothy Dalton’s more grounded and realistic approach to the iconic James Bond character, his debut, The Living Daylights, is perhaps best remembered for its inspired score by the late British composer, John Barry. He reshaped Bond’s iconic theme song in The Living Daylights by incorporating many electronic instruments that still make the music among the best in the entire franchise. There are plenty of working composers who could help reinvent the James Bond theme song again for the modern age starting with Bond 26. Ludwig Göransson and Michael Giacchino have plenty of blockbuster experience, while Hans Zimmer could return after No Time To Die.
2 Pierce Brosnan, GoldenEye (1995)
GoldenEye was the first Bond movie to feature beloved Irish actor Pierce Brosnan in the role. Brosnan has gone down in history as one of the best Bonds thanks in part to how GoldenEye took the time to question what Bond’s relevance would be moving into the 21st century. Writers Jeffrey Caine and Bruce Feirstein included references to major world events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union. Bond 26 would be smart to learn from this method and address newer global concerns as part of the reboot. This could be anything from AI to major political conflicts with clever and considerate writing.
1 Daniel Craig, Casino Royale (2006)
Daniel Craig is the most recent actor to play Bond and his interpretation of the character beginning in 2006’s Casino Royale left a major impression on modern audiences. While Craig’s Bond era contributed immensely to reshaping the way audiences view the character, the filmmakers responsible for Bond 26 would make a huge mistake essentially making the newer Bond too similar to his work. However, the most impactful thing director Sam Mendes achieved with his interpretation of Bond was making him far more vulnerable and human than he’s ever been.
Naturally, it’s great seeing Bond utilize his gadgets, drive luxury vehicles, and court beautiful women, but it’s even better seeing him pontificate on why it is he does half of those things in the first place. Bond 26 should make its version of the character unique, so it would be smart to find ways to explore new parts of Bond’s humanity and feelings instead of copying Daniel Craig’s version completely. If Bond 26 wants to usher in a new era, adding or even subverting elements from the previous entries would be a way to keep the franchise running for years to come.
