Warning! SPOILERS for No Time To Die
There's no arguing that James Bond is a cinematic icon, but the character should be retired after No Time To Die and replaced with the 007 Franchise. Directed by Cari Joji Fukunaga, the 25th installment in the espionage series marks Daniel Craig’s fifth and final outing as Bond. The film has been long-delayed, with the original director Danny Boyle departing from the project over creative differences, and then COVID-19 pushing back the blockbuster’s theatrical release.
No Time To Die definitively ends Daniel Craig’s five-film Bond arc, continuing plot threads from the divisive Spectre (2015) and even going back to Casino Royale (2006). No longer in active service, Bond is nevertheless pulled back into action to neutralize a biological weapon threat orchestrated by the mysterious Lyutsifer Safin (Rami Malek). The film is also one of the few in the series to focus more on James Bond’s personal life, with returning love interest Madeleine Swann (Léa Seydoux) playing a crucial role in Bond’s emotional journey.
Of all six Bonds actors, Craig is the first to receive a true send-off, and perhaps it's best left this way. The character should now be retired to focus on continuing the franchise under the 007 codename, with different actors playing entirely separate characters. Craig’s Bond redefined the series, delivering exhilarating action that shook off any feeling that Bond was an older generation’s franchise. Replacing Craig after No Time To Die is a tremendously difficult task that will never satisfy everyone. Instead, branching off into non-Bond-centric 007 movies can breathe new life into the franchise, allowing alternative characters to shine without immediately rebooting with another James Bond movie.
Bond has frequently been described as an outdated character, with older films exhibiting a misogynistic attitude. The recent movies, and Daniel Craig himself, have shown a desire to rectify this, albeit with mixed results. However, Bond has always been aggressively masculine, and to drastically alter the character's DNA would, arguably, cause him to cease being Bond. Casino Royale depicted an emotionally scarred Bond, successfully updating the series with Craig's portrayal of a man forever haunted by his love for Vesper Lynd (Eva Green). This defined Bond's actions throughout the Craig era, providing a consistent emotional arc missing from earlier interpretations. It's difficult to imagine his replacement similarly revitalizing the franchise without abandoning certain elements synonymous with the character. No Time To Die's ending effectively sets up the franchise's possible future by killing Bond, with him already having been replaced as 007 by Nomi (Lashana Lynch).
The best way to honor Bond’s death, and Craig’s legacy, is to emphasize the 007 codename rather than hurrying to reboot the franchise. There has been much debate about who should next play the spy, but a series of 007 spinoffs with different agents taking on the title is the best way to retire the character while expanding the existing world. Nomi's role can be significantly deepened and familiar faces can become more actively involved in missions, allowing time to develop characters such as No Time To Die's underused Paloma (Ana De Armas). There is no need to jettison current characters for a reboot, and the 007 codename would free the franchise from certain expectations. Bond is presumed to survive for multiple films, whereas 007 agents could retire or die at any time. Establishing a 007 franchise also enables actors to portray diverse characters each with a unique personality, opposed to male performers simply recreating Bond's famous persona.
This tactic would widen casting opportunities and remove the pressure to top Craig, without losing the prestige of 007. No Time To Die ends with Bond’s daughter learning about her father, creating the potential for a legacy film set in the future. This could even be the closest the franchise might come to delivering a female James Bond. Rather than risk retreading old ground, it’s time to respectfully retire James Bond and allow new spies to propel the series forward.