Warning: This article contains spoilers for No Time To Die
James Bond has operated under the codename 007 for as long as the character has existed but No Time To Die showed that the iconic number can live beyond its famous owner. Craig’s last film as Bond ended with the character accepting an explosive end in the course of rescuing his lover Madeleine and their daughter, making him the first Bond to die in the history of the franchise. This ending has received mixed reactions from audiences but also raised questions about the future of Bond and the 007 codename.
The three digits have been synonymous with the Bond name in the past, with many viewers of the franchise calling him by such instead of his name at times. Not a single film in the long-running franchise passes without M or another character referring to Bond by the iconic number. Even in No Time To Die, Bond seems to struggle a bit with finding an identity outside of being agent 007.
Therefore, it came as a minor surprise of Daniel Craig’s final outing as Bond when new agent Nomi (an important role played by Lashana Lynch) revealed that his former assignment had been reassigned to her following Bond’s retirement. But No Time to Die also proved the number is not wholly attached to the character and that there are others who could even be worthy of the 007 codename. The Broccoli family (who controls the film rights to the character) has already revealed plans to search for a new Bond actor but it seems there is an opportunity for 007 to live on sans Bond, thanks to the introduction of multiple suitable replacements in the form of Ana de Armas' Paloma and Lashana Lynch's Nomi.
The first indication of this is given within No Time To Die, when the famous number is given to Nomi. Lynch brought a lot of charm to the role and was a compelling addition to the world of the British Secret Service. Many have voiced support for a spin-off focused on Nomi’s character and since she has already once held the title of 007, she seems to be a worthy candidate to take it on again. However, Nomi's future in the 007 franchise is uncertain, given that it would also be in character for her to reject the codename in honor of Bond, with whom she eventually formed a bond in spite of a competitive beginning.
Even if Nomi doesn’t take on the 007 title, it’s possible that a totally new character could receive the number. Another option would be to retire the digits completely and follow the adventures of other characters from the Bond universe, even those outside of the British Secret Service. Audiences loved Ana de Armas’ small yet dynamic role as Paloma opposite Craig’s Bond in No Time To Die. Armas' role showed that the Bond franchise has a future beyond its usual scope; whether the Broccoli family chooses to take the franchise to these new places is another story. Audiences' responses to both Nomi and Paloma show that there is ample opportunity for 007 beyond both Bond and his iconic numbers.