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This Sunday is James Bond Day, for those who didn't know – 5 October is recognized as a global festivity honoring the world of 007, thanks to it marking the anniversary of the world premiere of Dr No, with Sean Connery, during 1962. Think of it comparable to May the 4th, minus the creature costumes and much more tuxedoed swagger.

A Muted Event Currently

This year however, the arrival of James Bond Day is a bit anticlimactic. It's only been following the filmmaker was revealed to helm the future installment back in June, and even less time since writer Steven Knight was hired to draft the story. Yet there has been little to no sign since then about the future agent being officially announced, and even less sense concerning the path this long-running series is going next. The only information is industry speculation via the Hollywood trades indicating that the creative team will be looking for a fairly young UK performer, possibly non-white although not a female actor, an established star, or anyone slightly known.

Bad News for Oddsmakers

Undoubtedly, this represents unwelcome developments for the hordes online bookmakers who have been earning significant profits for months now by attempting to persuade punters that it is a race between several speculated candidates along with the attractive actor featured in Saltburn who’s secretly Australian.

Going Back to the Unknown

Notably, the most recent occasion the 007 series chose an absolute newcomer occurred in 1969, with George Lazenby briefly took up the iconic pistol. Earlier, Sean Connery certainly wasn’t a star: he had had several supporting roles along with some stage and modelling work as well as working in fitness and milk delivery in his hometown before taking the starring part in Dr No. Producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman deliberately avoided a household name; they sought someone fresh whom audiences would accept as the real 007, rather than as a performer portraying Bond.

Repeating this trick could turn out to be a clever decision, exactly as it was during the franchise's infancy.

Director's Influence

However, bringing in Villeneuve involved indicates that there are no excuses at all should the next 007 proves to be wooden. Dialling up the over-the-top gadgets and suggestive humor is no longer an option with a director like is an artistic director specializing in cinematic genres most famous for thoughtful science fiction in which the most intense element is deep philosophical tension.

An aggressive type in black tie … Craig's debut in Casino Royale.

A New Direction for the Franchise

However, to a large extent, bringing in Villeneuve reveals a great deal we should understand concerning the fresh post-Daniel Craig direction. There are not going to be stealth automobiles or double entendres, and the return of the southern lawman in the near future. All of this is, naturally, absolutely fine for those who prefer the secret agent updated for today. However, it leaves unclear the director's interpretation of the elegant government hitman will be unique from the 007s that came before him notably if the next chapter doesn’t choose to take the whole story in the original time period.

Redefining All Chapters

Craig stood out at once as a different type of stylish operative when he arrived in the role in Casino Royale from 2006, a tough character in formal attire who would never be seen in an invisible car, or using sexual wordplay with co-stars while defusing a nuclear warhead. He caused Brosnan's tech-dependent charmer that just a short time before was viewed by many the top 007 after Connery, look like an imitation Connery overheated and ruined. This is not unprecedented. Lazenby succeeded Connery temporarily, Brosnan came after the underappreciated Dalton, and the silly final Moore films succeeded the gritty initial Moore. All franchise chapters redefines the last one, but each one is in its unique manner the iconic spy, and worth raising a glass to. It’s just a little weird, as we apparently celebrate the current 007 Day, that we are asked to honor a character who doesn’t even exist yet.