007 First Light: James Bond game redefines iconic British spy

A new James Bond is about to make his debut - not on the big screen, but in a video game. 007 First Light introduces a younger version of Ian Fleming's iconic spy, played by Irish actor Patrick Gibson. It presents Bond before he's earned his "00" status, offering a fresh take on a character that's seen continual reinvention for more than six decades. The new game arrives at a moment of transition for the franchise, with no actor yet confirmed as the next cinematic Bond following Daniel Craig's final appearance in No Time to Die in 2021. The casting process for the live action film has only just officially started, about 15 months since Amazon MGM Studios took control of the Bond franchise. Gibson's portrayal focuses on a more vulnerable, less experienced version of the character. I met the actor in a London hotel, where he explained his interpretation of the world's most famous spy. "In the origins, there's a wound there," he says. "When you feel like you have nothing to lose, and that's met with a purpose, that's a powerful weapon." The approach mirrors previous attempts to reset the franchise. Daniel Craig's 2006 debut in Casino Royale famously reintroduced Bond as a rough-edged