A new interview for 007 First Light reveals James Bond will not only be younger but his womanizing days are over as the “old school” version of the spy would feel “tone deaf” for modern audiences.
Speaking in a new interview, narrative and cinematic director Martin Emborg noted 007 First Light will have the things fans expect from the charismatic spy, though the character known as James Bond has “evolved” to reflect “modern values.”
When asked if the famous fictional spy would share earlier Bond traits – specifically his “womanizer” tendencies, Emborg said “you will” see that.
However, there’s a fine line between a ladies man protagonist and what could be perceived as “tone deaf” or even offensive to modern sensibilities.
Earlier film adaptations in the Bond franchise, though they remain classics in the eyes of fans, Bond’s overall treatment of women outside of romance has been the subject of debate. Bond’s most recent film actor, Daniel Craig, even said at one point that Bond is “actually a misogynist.”
As such, IO Interactive is adapting the classic Bond character for a more modern take with what is an origins story on the character.
“So, he’s evolved through the decades, and obviously, we reflect modern values,” Emborg said. “So it’s not going to be your old school Bond, which would just be tone deaf in this day, right? He’s a modern guy.”
IO Interactive gained worldwide success with their Hitman series, inspired by the Bond franchise, which features a nameless contract killer Agent 47.
They’re applying their knowhow to the Bond franchise, which drops the stealth focus in Hitman for a more blockbuster action approach the series is known for.
The team behind 007 First Light remain focused on still presenting Bond as the iconic, charming character that Ian Fleming dreamed up decades ago.
“You get to be the coolest secret agent in the world. I mean, that’s the shortest pitch, right?,” Emborg said. “James Bond is endlessly charming. He’s funny, he’s incredibly cool. Like, the more dangerous it is, the more focused he gets. I think he’s the coolest guy in the world.”
007 First Light is set to launch on May 27th across Windows PC (via Steam and the Epic Games Store), Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, and PlayStation 5.
