James Bond is entering a new era — but not just in film. While a big-screen project is in development from new franchise owners Amazon MGM Studios, and with Blade Runner 2049 (2017) director Denis Villeneuve on board, the release is still a few years away.
Deadline also previously reported that the search for the next 007 actor won’t even begin until production on Villeneuve’s next film, Dune: Part Three, wraps sometime next year.
The Next James Bond Reboot Isn’t a Movie
But while Amazon MGM’s film continues through its early stages of production, a new James Bond reboot is already gearing up for release, following months of teasers, trailers, gameplay overviews, and behind-the-scenes deep-dives. That reboot is the video game “007 First Light” from IO Interactive, the developers behind the popular Hitman series.
IO Interactive’s “007 First Light” puts players in control of a young James Bond at the very start of his MI6 career. Announced earlier this year, the third-person action-adventure follows a 26-year-old Bond, played by Irish actor Patrick Gibson (Dexter: Original Sin), as he navigates his first missions and learns what it takes to become a 00 agent.
“007 First Light” Cast
The supporting cast includes Priyanga Burford as Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service M, Lennie James as Bond’s mentor John Greenway, Alastair Mackenzie as gadget-maker Q, Kiera Lester as M’s secretary Miss Moneypenny, Noemie Nakai as “Bond girl” Miss Roth, and Gemma Chan as MI6’s Head of Tactical Simulation Selina Tan.
Now, another actor and their character has been announced. The game’s latest reveal came at this year’s Game Awards, where IO Interactive showcased a trailer revealing world-famous musician Lenny Kravitz as the villain Bawma. Watch the official trailer below:
Who’s the New James Bond Villain?
The teaser shows Bond (Gibson) and his mentor Greenway (James) hanging upside-down above a crocodile pit, establishing the high-stakes danger of Bawma’s criminal network.
Set in the region of Aleph, Bawma controls a black-market arms operation, making him a central obstacle in Bond’s early career. Kravitz’s casting combines his performance-capture work with voice acting, marking a first for the musician in a video game role.
“007 First Light” will be released on March 27, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Are you excited about playing “007 First Light”? Let us know in the comments down below!
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