Summary
- 007 First Light introduces a unique young James Bond story with action, stealth, and a captivating narrative.
- Characters like M, Moneypenny, and Q return to new roles in the game to support Bond during his early missions.
- Bond will face a new antagonist, Agent 009, in an exciting storyline that hints at a showdown between fellow agents.
After a long hiatus, Ian Fleming’s James Bond video games are making a triumphant return with the upcoming release of 007 First Light in 2026. This game presents a completely original take on the Bond franchise by IO Interactive, combining action, stealth, and story-driven gameplay to depict the early missions of a young James Bond as an MI6 agent.
IO Interactive has already introduced several characters who will appear in 007 First Light, including both well-known figures from the franchise and a new villain that pays homage to past films. While fans are drawn to James Bond’s stories primarily for Bond himself, a truly engaging narrative would not be complete without the supporting characters that enrich the adventure.
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6 M
James Bond Always Answers To M, Even When They Disagree
- Previously Played By: Bernard Lee, Robert Brown, Judi Dench, and Ralph Fiennes
The Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service, known as M, has appeared in every James Bond novel and movie. Over the years, this character has been portrayed by four different actors over the decades. In 007 First Light, the character of M is portrayed by a woman for the second time, and she is confirmed to be particularly enthusiastic about recruiting James Bond into MI6.
James Bond and M share an intriguing relationship, as Bond often uses unorthodox methods to accomplish his missions, which tends to frustrate M. It is expected that she will be a consistent presence throughout the game, providing direction and guidance to Bond on his adventures while often being at odds with him about his insubordinate behavior.
5 John Greenway
A New Character And Potential Mentor For Bond
- Fun fact: John Greenway has never been in any book or movie.
007 First Light is introducing a brand-new character to the team at MI6 in the form of John Greenway. He is played by actor Lennie James, who is famous for his roles in Snatch, The Walking Dead, and Save Me. Not much is known about John Greenway’s role, but it is teased that he will be Bond’s mentor.
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In the debate about bringing James Bond into the recruitment program to turn him into a spy, John Greenway is more apprehensive, as he lists all of Bond’s toxic traits as reasons to decline him. However, M views those traits as reasons to recruit him. Additionally, it seems that John will be a partner for James Bond, as he is shown on a mission with Bond, even getting stuck in a death trap with him.
4 Moneypenny
She Is The First Person Bond Meets At MI6
- Previously Played By: Lois Maxwell, Caroline Bliss, Samantha Bond, and Naomie Harris
Although the game is not based on a movie or book, it pays homage to tradition by depicting Moneypenny welcoming James Bond into MI6 headquarters. In earlier films, Moneypenny served as a secretary at MI6, but the character has evolved. During the Daniel Craig era, she was given a more active role in Bond’s adventures while still acting as M’s assistant, even being deployed in the field when necessary.
All trademarks related to the relationship between James Bond and Moneypenny have already been established. Although James Bond makes every effort to flirt with her, she never reciprocates his advances. This raises the question whether they will ever become an item. They will likely have a similar relationship in 007 First Light.
3 Q
It’s Not 007 Without Fancy Gadget
- Previously Played By: Peter Burton, Desmond Llewelyn, John Cleese, and Ben Whishaw
While a bit antiquated in the 2020s, gadgets are a big part of spy adventures, especially James Bond. 007 First Light does not abandon this tradition, which has led to the reveal of Q, short for Quartermaster, who is typically an older yet kooky man who creates the most dangerous devices, upgrades for Bond’s iconic Aston Martin car, and even special clothing.
Previously, Desmond Llewelyn had the longest tenure of all James Bond characters before being replaced by John Cleese. In the Daniel Craig era, Q was given a reimagining as a man younger than Bond. 007 First Light has already shown fun Q gadgets like a rocket-powered motorcycle and the famous laser watch.
2 Agent 009
Bond Will Have To Fight His Dark Reflection
- Fun fact: In the books, James Bond 007, 008, and 0011 are the most veteran agents in the program.
It’s never explicitly stated who they are, but it would appear that one of James Bond’s first antagonists is Agent 009 of MI6. They are described only as a master manipulator, hinting that they are the orchestrator of whatever the main villainous plot is. It seems fitting that James Bond fights a 00 agent to earn his own status in 007 First Light.
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It will not be the first time that Bond has taken on a hero turned villain. The most famous example would be in GoldenEye, where Bond’s good friend Alec Trevelyan, 006, is the main villain. In Skyfall, Daniel Craig fought Raoul Silva, an MI6 operative who was left for dead by M. Perhaps 009 will be an homage to one or both of these villains.
1 James Bond
Rise Of The World’s Most Famous Spy
- Previously Played By: Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig
It’s not a James Bond game without the iconic protagonist, who has been played by many actors in the past. The character is known for his movies, starting with Sean Connery, leading up to Daniel Craig as the latest incarnation. However, he first debuted in the Casino Royale novel by Ian Fleming, and 007 First Flight is the first adaptation to feature James Bond’s signature scar on his cheek from the novels.
It is not confirmed, but fans are convinced that the new James Bond is Patrick Gibson of Dexter: Original Sin fame. So far, he’s the suave and one-liner-spewing action star that audiences expect James Bond to be. He is also seemingly the youngest portrayal of James Bond fans have gotten, showing him as a fresh recruit fresh out of the Navy and into MI6.
007 First Light
- Released
- May 27, 2026
