Few things in entertainment hit as hard as the announcement of a new James Bond. It’s a name that carries a lot of weight both commercially and culturally, and depending on the casting, it’s one that can leave a lasting impact on movies, TV, video games, and literature. Daniel Craig’s take on the character showed us that, even if you’re playing a larger-than-life superspy wrapped up head to toe in plot armor, there is still room for emotion and depth and for meaningful storytelling that doesn’t just focus on the explosions and hot women. Sure, those are fun to watch and talk about, but they’re not the only things in the world. Well, at least not for the majority of people. IO Interactive’s Bond in 007 First Light offers one such take, with Patrick Gibson giving us a look at a younger, less experienced Bond who is yet to grow into the cutthroat spy-assassin that we know and love. There’s a lot of traditional Bond in there, but it’s also a refreshing, different outlook on an established persona, one that definitely, much like Craig, provides that recognizable template with a much-needed emotional side. Gibson’s Bond is young and inexperienced, but just as stubborn. Image via IO Interactive And, according to Amazon producer Amy Pascal, a different outlook is exactly what the company is looking for in the next James Bond. Speaking with Deadline on Aug. 4, Pascal revealed that Amazon’s almost made up its mind about who’s going to play Ian Fleming’s longstanding character, with the choice most likely to be revealed by the end of 2026. “I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical. Having worked with Barbara Broccoli at the studio, I mean, Daniel Craig is a hard act to follow,” Pascal said. “And it’s got to be something really different that is a [sic!] stirring and exciting and different.” She said different twice there, so I guess that’s the biggest word floating around behind the scenes. As I’ve said, outside of Craig, Gibson’s Bond is the most different one we’ve gotten in literal decades. All actors, from Connery to Pierce Brosnan, had very similar understandings of the character, and it’s only in our postmodern era that we’ve started getting takes with a lot more depth to them than before. Some may not like that, but I think it’s a natural evolution for Bond, and since Gibson not only portrayed a new, fresh Bond, he also spearheaded one of the most critically acclaimed Bond titles in a very long time. Gibson could continue portraying a relatively younger Bond (he’s 31 in real life, so not exactly a teenager by any means) and perhaps even tie the big screen in with the video game world, since it’s not like Hollywood is wholly disinterested in marrying its industry with games. It’d be a unique chance and perhaps lead to something, as Pascal puts it, different, both for gamers and for cinephiles. 0The post Amazon hints at new James Bond reveal by the end of 2026—and I hope First Light’s choice makes the cut appeared first on Destructoid.