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This Sunday is James Bond Day, in case you missed it – the fifth of October has become a international celebration focused on everything about 007, because of it marking the day of the global debut of the first Bond film, starring Sean Connery, back in 1962. Imagine it similar to the Star Wars celebration, but with less Wookiees and Ewoks and much more tuxedoed swagger.

A Subdued Event Now

But on this occasion, the coming of James Bond Day feels rather anticlimactic. Not long has passed following Denis Villeneuve was confirmed as the director the upcoming 007 movie in June, and shortly after that writer Steven Knight was enlisted to write the script. Yet there has been little to no sign since then about the future agent getting unveiled, and even less sense about the direction this iconic film series is going next. All we have are unconfirmed reports via the Hollywood trades indicating that the creative team will be looking for a relatively youthful Brit, who might be a person of colour but is not going to be female, an established star, or a person we’ve vaguely heard of.

Letdown for Oddsmakers

Naturally, this is a setback for the hordes online bookmakers who have been earning significant profits for some time by attempting to persuade bettors that it is a race among a shortlist of actors along with the attractive actor in Saltburn who’s secretly Australian.

Going Back to the Unknown

Interestingly, the most recent occasion the 007 series actually went for a total unknown took place in 1969, when George Lazenby briefly took up the famous firearm. Before that, Sean Connery had little recognition: he had had some small movie parts plus occasional theater and modeling jobs in addition to working in fitness and milk delivery in Scotland prior to accepting the main character in the first film. Producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman intentionally rejected an established star; they wanted a new face that viewers would believe as the real 007, instead of an actor playing Bond.

Employing this strategy again might prove to be a brilliant tactic, similar to how it worked back in the sixties.

Impact of Villeneuve

But getting Villeneuve on board indicates that there are no excuses whatsoever if this new Bond proves to be a stiff. Increasing the ridiculous devices and suggestive humor is not feasible when your new director is an artistic director specializing in cinematic genres best known for dense futuristic stories in which the most intense element is profound unease.

An aggressive type in black tie … Daniel Craig as Bond in Casino Royale.

Fresh Approach for the Franchise

However, in numerous aspects, selecting this director provides clear signals we should understand regarding the upcoming era after Daniel Craig. It's unlikely there will be stealth automobiles or suggestive jokes, and it's doubtful we'll see the comic sheriff in the near future. These changes are, naturally, absolutely fine for those who prefer your 007 contemporary in style. Yet it fails to indicate this new version on Britain’s suavest state-sponsored assassin will be unique against earlier agents who immediately preceded him particularly should the new era opts not to take the whole story in the original time period.

Transforming Every Period

Craig was immediately recognisable as a new kind of dapper super-spy as he appeared in the franchise in the 2006 film, a bruiser in a dinner jacket who would never be seen in a stealth vehicle, or exchanging suggestive lines with co-stars while handling explosives. He caused the previous Bond's polished style which recently was regarded by certain critics the finest agent since the original, appear as an imitation Connery badly reheated. Not that this is anything new. Lazenby (briefly) followed Connery, Brosnan followed the underrated Timothy Dalton, and cheesy late-era Roger Moore came after the intense early Moore. Each Bond period reshapes the previous, however, every version remains in its unique manner James Bond 007, deserving of a toast. It’s just a little weird, as we apparently celebrate this year’s Bond Day, that we are asked to celebrate an agent who remains unidentified.