Young James Bond author Charlie Higson addresses the death of 007: “If they’ve got any sense, they’ll simply ignore it and start again”

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I was completely shocked when Bond was killed off in his very first scene. One minute he’s in bed with a woman, and the next, she triggers a trap – the bed folds into the wall, and gunmen open fire. Then, to my horror, he’s shown being buried at sea, wrapped in a sail. But then, divers recover his body, take him to a submarine, and unwrap him – he’s alive! Perfectly dressed in a navy uniform and wearing an oxygen mask, Bond emerges as if reborn. The title gave it away – You Only Live Twice. Just like Obi-Wan Kenobi, killing James Bond doesn’t stick; he always comes back, stronger than before.

As a longtime Bond fan, it’s wild to think about how many different actors have taken on the 007 role – six official Bonds so far, from Connery to Craig, with another one on the horizon! The British public’s fascination with James Bond has been incredible since the 60s, and it honestly hasn’t let up. Every little bit of Bond news gets dissected, but when a new movie drops – especially when a new actor is taking the reins, like we’ll see soon – it’s a total phenomenon.

This time, though, things feel different. Some people question why they’re bringing Bond back, considering he definitively died at the end of No Time to Die. Many viewers probably expected a last-minute escape, like the one in You Only Live Twice, with his iconic theme song playing as he rode off into the sunset. But that didn’t happen. He truly was gone.

The Bond literary series faced a turning point with Ian Fleming’s death in 1964. While it could have ended there, the estate decided to continue the character’s adventures. Kingsley Amis, a dedicated Bond fan, had already helped refine Fleming’s unfinished novel, The Man with the Golden Gun, and was the natural choice to write the first new Bond novel, Colonel Sun.

The book’s success prompted the estate to keep commissioning new Bond novels. They initially hired British thriller writer John Gardner, who had written fourteen novels and adapted two films for print, then American Bond expert Raymond Benson, who penned six original novels and three film adaptations. After a six-year pause, coinciding with the release of the new Bond film Casino Royale, the estate turned to well-known literary authors—and Bond fans—like Sebastian Faulks, William Boyd, and Anthony Horowitz to continue the series.

The Bond franchise has continued to thrive through various books and spin-off projects, especially as the time between films has increased. I began writing the ‘Young Bond’ series in 2005, releasing five books. More recently, Kim Sherwood has penned a compelling trilogy focusing on different 00 agents, with the final installment, ‘Hurricane Room,’ just released. Popular crime writer Vaseem Khan has also launched a series featuring a retired Q as an amateur detective. And next year, a new series for younger readers, ‘MW Craven’s James Bond and the Secret Agent Academy,’ will be published.

I’m excited to share that my latest James Bond novel, King Zero, will be released this fall. Even though there isn’t a new Bond film coming out this year, fans still have something to look forward to! There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the new James Bond video game, 007 First Light. This game was developed by Eon Productions and intended to bridge the gap between Daniel Craig’s time as Bond and the introduction of a new actor in future films.

This new game aims to attract a fresh audience while reimagining Bond as a young agent early in his career. The hype surrounding it is comparable to a major movie launch, and the developers are treating it as such. They’ve been gradually revealing details – from the cast to trailers and the title song (created by David Arnold and Lana Del Rey, complete with a movie-style opening sequence) – to build excitement before the game is even released.

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It felt right, though no one realized it at the time, that Daniel Craig’s James Bond would die in No Time to Die. The film marked the end of an era, as it was the last Bond movie produced by Eon, the company behind every official Bond film since Dr. No in 1962. For 60 years, the Broccoli family was closely involved in making these films, but now Amazon owns the full rights, and this new game is the first release under their ownership.

Eon Productions skillfully guided the James Bond franchise through changing times, keeping it thrilling and popular with audiences. Now that Amazon is taking over, fans are eager to see what the future holds. They’re wondering what the new Bond will be like, how the films will adapt to today’s world, and if all the key elements will come together successfully. With Denis Villeneuve directing and Steven Knight writing, the next Bond film is sure to be a major cinematic event.

Only time will tell when the news will finally come, but for now, updates are released slowly, every few weeks. Everyone is especially eager to find out who will be cast as the next James Bond, and inevitably, many will be disappointed with the choice. There’s still plenty of anticipation to come, but just like the saying goes, Bond will live on.

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2026-05-25 19:43