In two versions ofGoldenEye 007, the iconic first-person shooter based on the globe-trotting world of a secret agent by the name of James Bond, we’ve seen his most recent famous actors play him —Pierce Brosnanin the originalNintendo 64version, andDaniel Craigin the remastered Wii version. Now as Craig wraps up his big screen take on Bond (eventually), we’ve got anew video game take on the characterforthcoming from IO Interactive, the maestros behind the similarly-tonedHitmanfranchise. But it won’t be Craig, Brosnan, or any previous Bond actor playing James.
Per an interview with the Danish Broadcasting Corporation (translation h/t to IGN), IO Interactive’s directorHakan Abraksaid that “we have been allowed to make our own digital Bond, which will not lean on a Bond actor.” He went on to reveal thatProject 007, as it’s currently titled, is based on a “completely original story, and you could easily imagine that a trilogy could come out of it.” A new take on an iconic character based just on the character rather than existing media, with creative control by an acclaimed video game studio, that might be told over a trilogy? Is it just me, or is IO Interactive planning on making their ownArkham Asylumfranchise?
Abrak also revealed it took some convincing ofBarbara Broccoliand EON Productions, the license owners of James Bond, to approve this original take on the material. Eventually, their track record onHitmanand plans for Bond “went right into the heart” of Broccoli and EON, aided by Abrak’s “good Scandinavian charm.” All of this news excited the heck out of me; there’s so much subtext within the concept of Bond worth exploring, heightening, and inventing, and I’m glad IO’s going for originality over facial recognition. Plus, theirHitmanfranchise storytelling reveals a nice mixture between darkly funny humor and gut-punching moral ambiguity; in other words,Roger Mooremeets Daniel Craig.
This leaves one question: Who’s gonna play Bond for IO? Will we finally getIdris Elba, even if he’s motion capped? I’ll say this: I don’t care who they get to virtually play Bond this go around, so long as he can pull offas wild of speed runs as thisHitman 3clip.Thatguy’s 007 material.
