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It's James Bond Day, for those who didn't know – the fifth of October now stands as a global celebration focused on all things 007, thanks to it marking the anniversary of the world premiere of Dr No, featuring Sean Connery, in the year 1962. Think of it comparable to Star Wars Day, but with less Wookiees and Ewoks and much more elegant confidence.

A Subdued Observance This Year

This year however, the advent of the 007 celebration seems somewhat anticlimactic. It hasn't been since Denis Villeneuve was announced to direct the upcoming 007 movie earlier this year, and even less time that Peaky Blinders’ Steven Knight was brought on board to write the script. But there’s been little to no sign afterwards of the new 007 being officially announced, with minimal clarity of where this iconic film series is headed. All we have is industry speculation through film industry sources indicating that the film-makers will be looking for a relatively youthful UK performer, possibly from a diverse background although not a woman, a big-name celebrity, or somebody remotely familiar.

Letdown for Betting Agencies

This is, of course disappointing news for the hordes gambling platforms who have been earning significant profits over recent months by attempting to persuade punters that the competition is among Callum Turner, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Theo James, Leo Woodall plus the charismatic star featured in Saltburn who is actually Australian.

Revisiting Unfamiliar Faces

Intriguingly, the previous instance the film series actually went for an absolute newcomer was in 1969, with George Lazenby briefly took up the famous firearm. Before that, Sean Connery was not famous: he had had some small movie parts plus occasional stage and modelling work as well as working as a bodybuilder and milkman in Scotland prior to accepting the starring part in Dr No. The film's producers intentionally rejected a household name; they wanted an unfamiliar performer who the public would see as the actual character, as opposed to a performer portraying Bond.

Employing this strategy again may end up as an ingenious move, just as it was in the early 1960s.

Impact of Villeneuve

Yet hiring Villeneuve on board means that there is no get-out clause whatsoever should the next 007 ends up as a stiff. Increasing the ridiculous devices and double entendres is not feasible under the guidance of is a solemn auteur known for genre films renowned for thoughtful science fiction in which the most intense element is profound unease.

A bruiser in a dinner jacket … Craig's debut in Casino Royale.

Updated Vision for the Franchise

However, in numerous aspects, hiring Villeneuve provides clear signals we need to know regarding the upcoming post-Craig phase. There are not going to be stealth automobiles or sexual innuendos, and we probably won’t be getting the southern lawman again shortly. These changes are, naturally, absolutely fine for those who prefer the secret agent with a modern twist. However, it leaves unclear how Villeneuve’s take on Britain’s suavest state-sponsored assassin will stand out compared to previous Bonds that came before him particularly should the upcoming phase doesn’t choose to place the plot in the initial decades.

Redefining Each Era

Craig was immediately recognisable as a new kind of stylish operative when he arrived in the franchise in 2006’s Casino Royale, a tough character in formal attire who would avoid at all costs in an invisible car, or exchanging suggestive lines with co-stars during bomb disposal. He rendered Brosnan's tech-dependent charmer which recently was viewed by many the finest agent since the original, look like an imitation Connery overheated and ruined. This is not unprecedented. Lazenby (briefly) followed Connery, Brosnan followed the underappreciated Dalton, and the silly final Moore films came after the intense early Moore. All franchise chapters alters the prior, however, every version remains in its unique manner the iconic spy, deserving of a toast. It’s just a little weird, while we mark the current 007 Day, that we are being invited to celebrate an agent who doesn’t even exist yet.