(Warning! Major spoilers for the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die, follow.)
No Time to Die didn’t come without shockers.
Major No Time To Die Spoilers Ahead, You’ve Been Warned
Particularly, that Bond (Daniel Craig) has a child – and that it seems clear the protagonist died.
However, even though it seemed clear he died, at the end of the credits, it says “James Bond will return.”
How Will ‘James Bond’ ‘Return?’
It saying “James Bond will return” at credits’ end could realistically mean a few things: he (somehow) didn’t actually die; he will come back for the dead; or there will be another 007, or “James Bond,” that is the protagonist of the films.
It now also perhaps makes more sense why media outlets were wondering if the next “Bond” will be a woman. That could be because the 007 in No Time to Die is already woman (Nomi, played by Lashana Lynch). Or, as it turns out that since the protagonist has a daughter (Mathilde, played by Lisa-Dorah Sonnet), she could fill in her father’s shoes when she is an adult.
It was shocking, but I am fine with Bond dying – and I am actually surprised that it has never happened in the 25 prior films about him. (In fact, it almost makes more sense to have new 007s and new protagonists, rather than the same 007 and the same protagonist. Otherwise, he has a lot of over-the-top adventures in a relatively short amount of time.)
At This Point, Move Forward
And with it seeming clear he is dead, I would most like to see a new, non-Bond 007 as opposed to miraculously bringing him back from the dead, as major blockbusters rather often do with characters these days. Or as opposed to him not actually dying despite being hammered with bombs that, further, seemed to near-directly, if not directly, hit him.
It could even be refreshing to see a new character’s adventures, yet still in the same beloved 007 role.
What are your thoughts about it seeming to be clear that James Bond died? How will the production studio of No Time to Die, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Eon Productions, reckon killing him off with also stating that “James Bond will return?” How would you like to see the “return” of “Bond?” Comment below! And make sure to check out That Hashtag Show’s Bond coverage.
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My take on it is that the Daniel Craig Bond films are their own separate continuity, like the Nolanverse Batman films, with a clear beginning, end, and character arc–and that the next Bond film will be a reboot, starting over with a clean slate. I’d miss Craig’s supporting cast, especially Ben Whishaw’s Q and Naomi Harris’ Eve Moneypenny, but I’m not averse to the idea of a clean slate.
As a previous comment said a total reboot is all they have left. Daniel Craig was the best as was his supporting cast. Will never accept that ending. At least they didn’t kill Madelyn off.
I loved the film and could see part of the ending coming, ie not being able to touch his family or be with them after all – it would have been too cheesy and un-Bond-like to have him turning into a family man all of a sudden, and then the next film would have been another Die Hard, where his family is in danger again etc. I didn’t expect him to die, but it all fitted in, and I think the new 007 might take over in the form of Nomi – but if so I don’t understand the “James Bond will return” thing. I agree that if they try to claim he didn’t die it would be unbelievable and if he did he’d have to be badly disfigured and with a couple of bionic limbs (by Q!! That might actually be fun!). I don’t think his daughter would take over as “James Bond” because she presumably has her mother’s surname and she’s not called James either…
Two things that annoyed me: people kept speaking English to the little French girl – why? Secondly, why did Madeleine decide to put on red high heeled sandals when she left her chalet with her child and James for a life or death chase? Not trainers?!? I can forgive them having the standard spy-girl-in-revealing-ballgown-and-heels because she seemed meant to be a humorous/ironic throwback and she fought the baddies and James didn’t get off with her, partly I think because she was clearly half his age. They have updated it well.