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It's 007 Day, in case you missed it – the fifth of October is recognized as a global festivity dedicated to everything about 007, because of the fact it commemorates the date of the world premiere of the first Bond film, starring Sean Connery, during 1962. Consider it comparable to the Star Wars celebration, but with less Wookiees and Ewoks and an abundance of sophisticated style.

A Muted Event Currently

Yet this time around, the arrival of James Bond Day feels rather anticlimactic. Not long has passed after Denis Villeneuve was revealed as the director the upcoming 007 movie earlier this year, and even less time that writer Steven Knight was enlisted to draft the story. But there’s been scant evidence afterwards regarding the next Bond actually being revealed, with minimal clarity of where this iconic film series is going next. The only information is industry speculation through film industry sources indicating that the producers will be looking for a relatively youthful UK performer, possibly a person of colour but is not going to be a woman, a franchise star, or somebody slightly known.

Disappointment for Betting Agencies

Naturally, this is disappointing news for the many online bookmakers which have making a pretty penny for months now by attempting to persuade punters that the competition is involving a shortlist of actors along with the attractive actor featured in Saltburn with Australian origins.

Revisiting the Unknown

Interestingly, the last time the film series opted for an absolute newcomer took place in 1969, when George Lazenby temporarily assumed the iconic pistol. Before that, Connery himself had little recognition: he had taken a few minor film roles along with some acting and modeling gigs while also employed in physique competitions and dairy delivery in Edinburgh before landing the lead role in the first film. The creative heads specifically didn’t want a household name; they wanted someone fresh who the public would believe as the real 007, rather than as a star in the role.

Repeating this trick may end up as a brilliant tactic, similar to how it worked during the franchise's infancy.

Director's Influence

However, bringing in Villeneuve on board indicates that there are no excuses whatsoever in case the future agent ends up as wooden. Increasing the over-the-top gadgets and double entendres is off the table when your new director is an artistic director specializing in cinematic genres best known for dense futuristic stories where the loudest sound is deep philosophical tension.

A bruiser in a dinner jacket … Daniel Craig as Bond in Casino Royale.

Updated Vision for James Bond

However, in numerous aspects, hiring Villeneuve provides clear signals we should understand about the new post-Craig phase. It's unlikely there will be any invisible cars or double entendres, and it's doubtful we'll see the southern lawman again shortly. All of this is, naturally, perfectly acceptable assuming you enjoy your James Bond updated for today. However, it leaves unclear this new version regarding the stylish official killer will distinguish itself compared to previous Bonds that came before him particularly should the upcoming phase decides against to take the whole story in the initial decades.

Transforming All Chapters

Craig was immediately recognisable as a fresh version of elegant secret agent when he arrived on the scene in 2006’s Casino Royale, a tough character in formal attire who would never be caught dead in an invisible car, or using sexual wordplay with co-stars while defusing a nuclear warhead. He rendered Brosnan's tech-dependent charmer which recently was viewed by many as the best Bond since Connery, look like a karaoke Connery overheated and ruined. This is not unprecedented. Lazenby succeeded Connery temporarily, Brosnan came after the underrated Timothy Dalton, and cheesy late-era Roger Moore followed brilliantly dead-eyed and callous early Roger Moore. Every era of 007 alters the prior, yet they are all in their own way the iconic spy, worthy of celebration. It feels odd, while we mark the current 007 Day, that we are asked to celebrate an agent who doesn’t even exist yet.