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Arriving this weekend is James Bond Day, for those who didn't know – October 5th now stands as a worldwide celebration dedicated to the world of 007, due to this being the anniversary of the world premiere of Dr No, with Sean Connery, during 1962. Consider it as a bit like Star Wars Day, but with less creature costumes and a whole lot more sophisticated style.

A Muted Event Currently

This year however, the arrival of James Bond Day seems somewhat like a damp squib. It's only been following the acclaimed director was announced to helm the next Bond film in June, and not long afterwards since writer Steven Knight was brought on board to pen the screenplay. Yet there has been little to no sign from that point regarding the next Bond actually being revealed, with minimal clarity concerning the path this long-running series is going next. What remains are unconfirmed reports via the Hollywood trades suggesting that the producers will be looking for a fairly young UK performer, possibly from a diverse background although not female, an established star, or somebody we’ve vaguely heard of.

Bad News for Oddsmakers

Naturally, this is disappointing news for the hordes online bookmakers that have earning significant profits for months now by attempting to persuade bettors that the competition is involving a shortlist of actors plus the charismatic star featured in Saltburn who is actually Australian.

Revisiting Unfamiliar Faces

Interestingly, the most recent occasion the film series actually went for a complete unknown was in 1969, when George Lazenby briefly took up the famous firearm. Before that, Sean Connery had little recognition: he had taken a few minor film roles plus occasional theater and modeling jobs as well as working in fitness and milk delivery in Scotland before taking the main character in the debut movie. The film's producers deliberately avoided an established star; they wanted a new face who the public would see as Bond himself, rather than as a performer portraying Bond.

Repeating this trick may end up as a brilliant tactic, similar to how it worked during the franchise's infancy.

Impact of Villeneuve

However, bringing in Villeneuve involved indicates that there is no get-out clause in any way if this new Bond turns out to be a stiff. Dialling up the over-the-top gadgets and double entendres is not feasible with a director like is an artistic director of genre film-making best known for dense futuristic stories in which the most intense element is deep philosophical tension.

An aggressive type in black tie … Daniel Craig as Bond in Casino Royale.

Updated Vision for 007

However, to a large extent, selecting this director provides clear signals we need to know regarding the upcoming post-Daniel Craig direction. There are not going to be any invisible cars or sexual innuendos, and it's doubtful we'll see the comic sheriff again shortly. All of this is, undoubtedly, quite alright assuming you enjoy your 007 with a modern twist. Yet it fails to indicate this new version regarding the stylish official killer will stand out compared to previous Bonds that came before him especially if the new era decides against to take the whole story in the original time period.

Transforming Every Period

Craig was immediately recognisable as a new kind of dapper super-spy as he appeared on the scene in Casino Royale from 2006, a bruiser in a dinner jacket who would never be caught dead with ridiculous gadgets, or using sexual wordplay with Denise Richards during bomb disposal. He made Brosnan's tech-dependent charmer who only a few years previously had been considered by some as the best Bond since Connery, appear as a copycat version overheated and ruined. This pattern is familiar. After Connery came Lazenby, Then Brosnan took over from the overlooked Dalton, and cheesy late-era Roger Moore succeeded the gritty initial Moore. Each Bond period alters the prior, but each one is in their own way the famous agent, worthy of celebration. It feels odd, during this year's the current 007 Day, that the occasion calls to toast one who remains unidentified.