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It's Bond Day, if you weren't aware – the fifth of October now stands as a global festivity honoring the world of 007, because of the fact it commemorates the date of the global debut of Dr No, with Sean Connery, in the year 1962. Consider it comparable to the Star Wars celebration, but with less furry aliens and much more sophisticated style.

A Muted Event Currently

This year however, the arrival of the 007 celebration feels rather underwhelming. It's only been following the filmmaker was confirmed to direct the future installment back in June, and not long afterwards that writer Steven Knight was hired to draft the story. However, we've seen little to no sign since then regarding the next Bond getting unveiled, and even less sense about the direction this iconic film series will proceed. All we have are unconfirmed reports from entertainment outlets implying that the producers intend to cast a relatively youthful British actor, possibly a person of colour but is not going to be a female actor, a big-name celebrity, or anyone slightly known.

Letdown for Betting Agencies

This is, of course unwelcome developments for the hordes online bookmakers that have earning significant profits for some time through efforts to suggest bettors that the selection process is between several speculated candidates and that hunky guy from Saltburn with Australian origins.

A Return to Unfamiliar Faces

Notably, the previous instance the film series opted for a total unknown was in 1969, as George Lazenby for a short time carried the Walther PPK. Earlier, Sean Connery had little recognition: he had had some small movie parts along with some acting and modeling gigs in addition to working in fitness and milk delivery in his hometown before landing the starring part in the first film. The creative heads specifically didn’t want a household name; they wanted an unfamiliar performer that viewers would see as the real 007, instead of a star in the role.

Trying this approach once more could turn out to be a clever decision, just as it was during the franchise's infancy.

Director's Influence

Yet hiring Villeneuve involved means that there is no get-out clause in any way if this new Bond proves to be unconvincing. Increasing the exploding pens and suggestive humor is off the table with a director like is a serious filmmaker specializing in cinematic genres renowned for thoughtful science fiction in which the most intense element is deep philosophical tension.

An aggressive type in black tie … Daniel Craig in 2006’s Casino Royale.

A New Direction for 007

However, in many ways, hiring Villeneuve reveals a great deal we should understand about the new post-Daniel Craig direction. We won't see stealth automobiles or sexual innuendos, and the return of the southern lawman in the near future. This entire situation is, of course, absolutely fine for those who prefer your James Bond updated for today. But it doesn’t tell us how Villeneuve’s take on Britain’s suavest state-sponsored assassin will be unique against earlier agents who immediately preceded him especially if the upcoming phase opts not to take the whole story in the initial decades.

Redefining Each Era

Craig was immediately recognisable as a fresh version of elegant secret agent when he arrived in the role in Casino Royale from 2006, a tough character in formal attire who would never be caught dead in an invisible car, or using sexual wordplay with Denise Richards while defusing a nuclear warhead. He caused Brosnan's tech-dependent charmer who only a few years previously had been considered by some the top 007 after Connery, appear as a karaoke Connery overheated and ruined. This pattern is familiar. After Connery came Lazenby, Then Brosnan took over from the underrated Timothy Dalton, and cheesy late-era Roger Moore came after the intense early Moore. Each Bond period redefines the last one, however, every version remains in their own way James Bond 007, deserving of a toast. It's somewhat strange, during this year's the current 007 Day, that we are being invited to honor a character who remains unidentified.