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It's almost impossible to believe that today Eon Productions' James Bond series celebrates its 60th anniversary. Dr No premiered at the London Pavilion on 5th October 1962 and was an instant hit. 
  It was quickly followed by From Russia With Love, Goldfinger and Thunderball creating in the 1960s a huge boom not only in James Bond but in the espionage genre as a whole. Its longevity is a testament to its enduring popularity.

Over the years, the series has undergone many changes, but its core appeal remains the same: thrilling action, glamorous locations, and a dash of humour. With its mix of suspense, romance, and humour, the James Bond series has something for everyone, and its enduring appeal is sure to keep fans coming back for more for many years to come.

Of course, after No Time to Die the question is, who will be the next James Bond?

Casting the next actor to play Bond is no easy task. The iconic character has been played by some of the most talented and well-known actors in the world, including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and, most recently, Daniel Craig. Finding someone who has the charisma, charm, and screen presence to fill those shoes is no easy feat.

The producers of the franchise have their work cut out for them as they try to find the perfect actor to play the legendary role. They will no doubt be looking for someone who can bring something new and fresh to the role while still paying homage to the iconic characters that have come before. Whoever is ultimately cast as the new James Bond, they will have some big shoes to fill.
 

The Big Six O

To celebrate the 60th anniversary Bill Koenig of The Spy Command and I got together last Saturday to record a video. We talked about our first experience of Bond on the big screen, our favourite film of the series and some high points of the series and for us. You can watch it below:

So finally onto news. Some Bond fans are hoping for the next James Bond to be announced today, but personally I think it is unlikely.
 

News

First is the death of Queen Elizabeth II. It’s strange to think that for the first time since James Bond first graced the pages of Casino Royale in 1953 the UK and Commonwealth no longer has Queen Elizabeth as head of state. It's the end of an era.
 

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Variety published an interview with Eon bosses Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson to coincide with them  receiving two Hollywood awards. But if there is any progress on Bond 26 it seems like it is moving at a snail’s pace.

And more recently the Bond producers  appeared on a recent episode of The Empire film podcast to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the 007 series. They talk about many things including the difficulty of casting the next James Bond.

Original Bond recording artists Dame Shirley Bassey, Lulu, Chrissie Hynde and Garbage performed iconic 007 songs at a concert at the Royal Albert Hall last night.  It also featured guest vocalists Becky Hill, Celeste, Ella Eyre, Jamie Cullum, John Grant and Paloma Faith accompanied by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. If you missed it the good news is you'll be able to watch it on Amazon Prime from today. Amazon Prime also has a documentary on the Bond music, The Sound of 007, directed by Mat Whitecross. Click here for details of both.

Sticking with music for a moment, "Bond 25" is a new album performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with new orchestral arrangements of the James Bond themes. It is available now to purchase on CD, vinyl and download. 

And also celebrating the 60th anniversary is this special edition Scotch from The Macallan. The whiskey is available in six Bond-themed bottles to celebrate diamond anniversary of the film series. The brand has been providing whiskey to the series since Skyfall.
 

Features

Javier E. Trujillo reviews James Bond: Himeros #5, the fifth and final issue from Dynamite’s 2021 comic book series. Find out his thoughts on the five book series here.

David Leigh
The James Bond Dossier

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