The next James Bond has been named. The reveal comes not from the movies, but from the gaming world. While director Denis Villeneuve (Dune: Part Two) and writer Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) keep the film reboot’s casting locked away, the spotlight has shifted to IO Interactive’s “007 First Light,” which arrives next year and will see Irish actor Patrick Gibson take up the mantle of James Bond.
The confirmation came in a conversation with Screen Rant Plus, where Lennie James (The Walking Dead)—who plays Bond’s mentor Greenway in the game—revealed Bond’s real-life identity. Fans had already been speculating since the trailer dropped months ago, but James’ words have sealed it.
At 30, Gibson’s resume signals why he might make a compelling Bond. His breakout role as young Dexter Morgan in Dexter: Original Sin (2024) showcased a rare ability to balance menace with charisma, an energy that seems tailor-made for 007.
His earlier credits include Netflix’s The OA (2016–2019) and Tolkien (2019), where he starred opposite Nicholas Hoult. While Dexter could return for a second season, the immediate spotlight is on Gibson stepping into one of pop culture’s most iconic roles.
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“First Light” sets Bond at 26—before his 00 status—placing Gibson in a unique position compared to Daniel Craig’s tenure.
Casino Royale (2006) also charted a younger, rawer Bond, but Craig was in his late thirties when he filmed it. Gibson’s take is canonically younger and deliberately less seasoned, tasked with squaring off against rogue agent 009 while longtime allies like M, Q, and Miss Moneypenny look on.
Among the roster of Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Craig, Gibson joins the ranks as one of the youngest Bonds in history. Though Lazenby was only 29 when he filmed On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Gibson’s in-game Bond, at 26, positions him as the character’s greenest portrayal yet.
That youth, paired with Gibson’s knack for layered intensity, suggests a Bond with both vulnerability and edge. Watch the trailer for “007 First Light” from IO Interactive below:
For those eager to dive deeper into “007 First Light,” IO Interactive has launched an official site dedicated to the game.
If you want to know more about “007 First Light,” here’s everything you need to know!
