James Bond is Wonderfully Depicted in the Video Game ‘007 First Light’ and Could Show Amazon MGM the Way Forward

If you’re a listener of the Awards Radar Podcast, you’re probably aware of how much I was looking forward to 007 First Light. A James Bond video game from IO Interactive, the makers of the Hitman franchise? Yes please. Well, in a world full of disappointment, this was the rare occasion where something actually lived up to the hype, as the game is terrific. I haven’t done a deep dive on the podcast yet, though I may still, as I wanted to write a bit about it here. Mainly? The fact that Amazon MGM should take this success as a sign that the Bond franchise is more than just an IP, especially as work is being done on the next film.

The game is a Bond origin story, tracing the training and first mission that would grant him 00 status. This young version of 007 is voiced by Patrick Gibson and feels both familiar and new. While we all love GoldenEye, that revolutionary game was more notable for what it did as a first person shooter than for the character. Here, you actually feel like James Bond, which is a first in the gaming world. It’s truly exciting and so much fun. The spycraft feels Bond-like, while the escalation in chaos feels like what he would encounter, especially in his early days. It’s an absolute hoot, to the point where I hope Amazon MGM considers this when making the next movie.

I want nothing more than for the next Bond flick to be amazing. Previously, I wrote here about who could play 007 next (though I’m now on the Jacob Elordi train, with the rumored to have auditioned Tom Francis not being a bad option at all) and here about who should direct the film (I did at least partly nail this one by citing Denis Villeneuve as a strong option). The talent behind the camera is going to be significant. Assuming they cast correctly, the ingredients will be here for something special.

Given the age that they’re looking at for the next actor to play the spy, it’s likely we’re getting an origin story, or at least an early days story. Now, I don’t need or even want them to adapt the game, but this narrative is so well suited to Bond, they should be paying attention to what works. If they do that, not only will the film be in a good place, they’ll hopefully give the same tender loving care to the hopeful 007 First Light sequel.

The game gets James Bond right, showing you new sides of the character, detailing how he got his scars, both literal and figurative, all while giving you the control of the hero you’ve always wanted. Everyone involved in 007 First Light got this 100% correct. Amazon MGM needs to pay attention and build off of that. I’m cautiously optimistic, given how happy the game has made me, as well as scores of fans. Now, it’s the filmmakers’ turn. Don’t let us down!

Stay tuned to see how the next 007 outing turns out!