With Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond ending with No Time to Die, there has been endless speculation of who could be the next 007 and, more so, what the story could be about. With Dune director Denis Villeneuve at the helm and Steven Knight, writer of Peaky Blinders, taking over the story, it also gives the series great potential, especially as a period piece.
James Bond has always moved forward with the times and because of that, has evolved in many ways. However, there’s no denying that there’s an allure to telling a new type of Bond story set in the past. With Knight as writer, this feels more tangible than ever, but what few realize is just how successful a James Bond period piece could be.
James Bond Has Potential by Moving Away From the Present
Daniel Craig’s Bond evolved the franchise for the modern age with Casino Royale. While his tenure never overstayed its welcome, the franchise reached a natural stopping point with No Time to Die. Craig’s Bond showed signs of wanting to leave his life of espionage, and while he had moments of respite, this ultimately wasn’t meant to be, as he died a hero and a spy all the same.
Craig delivered audiences one of the most book-accurate iterations of James Bond dedicated to film while also bringing MI6 to the modern age. Now things like cellphones were just as dangerous as an Aston Martin with mounted machine guns. It was interesting and fun, but also had audiences yearning for a simpler time.
When actors like Sean Connery and Roger Moore were James Bond, there was a much more hands-on approach to espionage. It wasn’t about hacking or data on MI6 agents being leaked so much as it was about stopping a deadly threat that wants nothing more than world domination.
This yearning for a simpler narrative that’s more about good vs. evil than its nuances is exactly what Bond needs as he enters this new era. But the best way to do this is to travel to the past, and it’s an era that could work better than anyone expects for the Bond franchise. But just saying it could work only does so much, as there are many elements that make taking the series back in time so effective.
James Bond Works Best in a Different Time Period
Everyone has a favorite era of James Bond, and that should go without saying. Seeing him evolve over the decades has also had audiences pick eras that they prefer over others. For example, the grim and brutal era of Timothy Dalton’s James Bond may not be to the liking of the campier era of Roger Moore’s Bond from the ’70s. Nevertheless, there’s something for everybody.
One thing that’s certain, though, is that when people think of some of the best James Bond movies, like From Russia With Love, the simplicity of the past almost always wins out. Even Daniel Craig’s Casino Royale and Skyfall are beloved because of how well they bring the series back to basics in simple ways. That alone helps prove why Bond works best in the past, but is far from the only reason as well.
Sean Connery’s Bond movies were always famous for their simplicity and style. Bond was always facing evil masterminds that had as much ambition as they did power, and it was always up to him, his pistol, gadgets, and a wicked right cross to see his mission through. But before that, seeing Bond attend parties, make friends, and get the drop on his enemies was always a delight to see.
Many of these elements existed in more modern stories as well, but there was a certain charm of the films in the ’60s that made it work. But Bond movies didn’t need to prove this, as even films like The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and Michael Fassbender in X-Men: First Class prove a ’60s spy movie is inexplicably perfect. Plus, as the world has grown accustomed to stories set in the past, now is the perfect time to take Bond back to basics in every sense.
Steven Knight is the Perfect James Bond Writer
Steven Knight has more than a few movies and shows under his name, but when it comes to the question of why he’d be a perfect writer for James Bond, shows such as Peaky Blinders serve as the best examples. Through the story of Tommy Shelby, Knight proves that he not only knows how to tell an English period piece but also how to show the complexity of characters that aren’t all good and are instead conflicted.
Knight knows how to also give side characters their time to shine, and in a universe where these characters can make or break the main story, that’s key. Seeing Q interact with Bond or Ms. Moneypenny flirt with the iconic spy are simple interactions, but just as crucial as nailing the perfect Bond performance. But with Knight, even more qualities can be brought out in these beloved characters, all set to a perfect ’60s aesthetic.
There’s always been a feeling with the classic Bond movies that the setting was nothing more than that and didn’t play as large a role as it could, especially in the UK scenes. However, with Knight writing the new Bond movies, the chance for a period piece exploring the character could also give the locations even more character than ever. Seeing Bond, at his height, trying to survive the stylish ’60s in the UK while catching a global terrorist shouldn’t sound as exciting as it does.
Steven Knight and Denis Villeneuve have a golden opportunity to give fans a new take on the James Bond mythos that’s both fitting for the era but also completely new in terms of setting. James Bond works best in the past, and it’s in the past that the future can finally take flight for the iconic spy and give fans yet another perfect Bond movie.
- Created by
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Ian Fleming
- Latest Film
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No Time to Die
- Cast
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Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Sean Connery, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, David Niven, George Lazenby
