The decades-long popularity of theJames Bondfranchise means it’s closely guarded by its stewards, and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer laid down a single stipulation for007 First Light’s version of the character. MGM, now owned by Amazon, has held the distribution rights for every Eon ProductionsBondfilm under its United Artists label, and has largely controlled the direction of the franchise alongside former Eon producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, whorelinquished creative control to Amazon MGMearlier this year.
James Bond is a coveted multimedia character whose image has been more carefully curated since the beginning of Daniel Craig’s tenure in the role with 2006’sCasino Royale. It’s been a long time since aBondvideo game was developed, and even longer since there was an especially good one. It’s not surprising to hear MGM had a certain request for the character, but the specifics of it are admittedly a little head-scratching.
MGM Asked IO Not To Make James Bond “A Killing Machine”
But That’s Like, 007’s Whole Thing
007 First Lightis being developed by IO Interactive, and the studio’s franchise director, Jonathan Lacaille, spoke toVGC(viaGameSpot) about MGM’s hand in the game. The production company had one request of IO’s 007:“Don’t make him a killing machine.“It sounds like IO has otherwise had a lot of creative freedom in its interpretation of the character. Lacaille said:
“[MGM] considered every idea we’ve had. There weren’t many massive nos or anything like that. It was always more like, ‘Yeah, but, we could do it this way, or…’ So it’s always been very collaborative, and a lot of good feedback, because they’ve been working with the franchise for so long as well, so it was great to have them so involved in the project, right? I’m sure it was a fun ride for them as well.”
MGM’s relatively hands-off approach has resulted in007 First Lightfeaturing theyoungest version of James Bondto grace the screen, a significant departure from Ian Fleming’s original version of the literary character, who is typically a very experienced naval officer turned MI6 agent. The company’s request is a bit odd, though, consideringthe capacity to kill – and do so heartlessly – is a defining trait of MI6’s 00 agents.
This is a focal point of theCasino Royalefilm, which shares arare look at pre-00 BondwithFirst Light. The opening scenes of the film even arguably establish the character as a “killing machine;” Bond violently eliminates a contact whom a high-ranking MI6 member is leaking state secrets to, before the MI6 section chief is himself coldly gunned down by Bond. Those two kills are requisite for earning 00 status –killing is baked into the character’s profession.
James Bondis the gold standard of the spy movie genre, but007 has long since become more of an assassin than a spy, courtesy of the 00 license to kill. Even Craig’s Bond, which began by exploring what killing does to one’s soul inCasino Royale, culminates inNo Time To Die’s incredible, single-shot stairwell scene, which alone sees 007 kill at least a dozen goons in under three minutes.
Bond can be excused for killing many of the film series' major villains, who aren’t going to allow themselves to be taken alive, butmost installments see Bond racking up kills in the double digits.
007 First Light Request Still Makes Some Sense
Bond Can Avoid Needless Violence
While the request from MGM fails to fully realize the character’s proclivity for taking lives, there are still a few favorable ways it can be interpreted. The obvious is thatMGM doesn’t want its character to fall victim to a common video game trope: the hero gunning down thousands of effectively faceless enemiesin pursuit of their goal. IO Interactive was likely chosen to take on theJames Bondlicense because itsHitmanseries demonstrates a capacity for subterfuge and social stealth, and aren’t outright action games.
It’s also possible that the request came after it had already been decided that007 First Lightwould be an origin story. Becoming a 00 traditionally requires two kills in cold blood, executed in the line of duty.Casino Royaleshows that these can be on M’s orders, butthe trailer for007 First Lightsuggests that this Bond’s two kills were improvisedwhile on assignment in Iceland.
MGM’s stipulation could be an effort to evoke a similar character arc asCasino Royale: a young Bond gradually becomes jaded as he leaves bodies in his wake and is worn down by the world of international espionage. Only time will tell how much violence is featured in007 First Light, but if MGM’s one request of IO Interactive is any indication, it may lean heavily into the franchise’s spycraft instead of the action set pieces.
