The currently untitled many James Bond movies, and so many different interpretations of the character possible, it is difficult to know what the next iteration of 007 and his world might look like. However, regardless of how much it deviates from past films, there are some important franchise hallmarks that the new iteration should look to implement.

James Bond is a complex series, filled with some of the best spy movies ever made. Following the incredible Daniel Craig-era of James Bond, which featured some weaker entries alongside what might be the greatest Bond movie ever made, Amazon MGM has much to live up to with their new take on the iconic hero. With so much to consider and so much to contend with as Bond moves into a new era, there is one clear cue from the past that would help the next film feel that much more connected to the larger franchise.

There Hasn't Been A James Bond Movie Titled After An Ian Fleming Book In 17 Years

Quantum Of Solace Was The Last Film To Use An Ian Fleming Title

The James Bond franchise began with Dr. No, the first of the Sean Connery Bond movies based on the Ian Fleming novel of the same name, and this convention of each movie being titled after one of his works continued until 1989. License to Kill was the first movie in the series that was not directly named after one of Fleming's works, eschewing a tradition that had persisted for nearly thirty years. This convention lasted through George Lazenby, Roger Moore, and the first Timothy Dalton film, The Living Daylights.

DID YOU KNOW: While GoldenEye was not named after an Ian Fleming story, its title was drawn from Goldeneye, Ian Fleming's estate in Oracabessa Bay, Jamaica.

Since then, Bond movies have been less slavish in using Fleming's titles. The entire Pierce Brosnan era of Bond changed this, drawing influence from the author's past rather than using the title directly. This included films like The World Is Not Enough, which was named after an English translation of Bond's family motto, "orbis non sufficit", from On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Casino Royale was the next film adapted from the Fleming novel. After this, only Quantum of Solace, named after a short story in For Your Eyes Only, has had a name drawn directly from a Fleming work.

Bond 26 Using An Ian Fleming Title Would Be An Encouraging Sign

Using This Naming Convention Could Help With Some Concerns About The Franchise's Future

After Amazon acquired MGM Studios, thereby gaining distribution rights to James Bond, it seems that there were behind-the-scenes disagreements between the newest co-owners and the Broccoli family, who retained creative control of the series. After a great deal of back and forth on where to take the next installment, Barbara Broccoli eventually ceded that control to Amazon earlier this year. While this will allow new Bond projects to move forward with greater ease at the new studio, it has also caused some concern, as this is a historic shift for the franchise.

Daniel Craig as James Bond looking sweaty and bruised
Related
With Amazon Taking Over The James Bond Franchise, These 7 Spinoffs Just Became A Lot More Likely

The James Bond franchises has resisted spinoffs and TV shows for over 60 years, but this could be about to change after Amazon’s takeover.

The Broccoli family, including Barbara and her father Albert R. Broccoli, nicknamed "Cubby", have been a part of the franchise from the beginning. Their no longer being a major creative force is a seismic change for the series. To contend with the legacy of the series, and to respect the past eras of Bond, Amazon must recognize some of the familiar conventions of Bond's past. Using a Fleming-inspired title would be a quick way to signal this, and could give some confidence to dubious audiences.

Bond 26 Should Use An Ian Fleming-Inspired Title, But The Options Are Limited

All The Novels Have Already Been Used As Titles

Unfortunately, all the novel titles by Fleming have already been used for movies in the franchise, leaving only short stories at the next film's disposal. "Risico," the word itself being Dutch for "risk", has been rumored for some time as a potential title for a Bond movie, after the short story that was serialized in Daily Express from April 11-15, 1960. That story was originally titled "The Double Take", which might also work as a Bond title. However, details from that story were already used in 1981's For Your Eyes Only.

Custom image Daniel Craig as James Bond, Alan Ritchson as Reacher, and John Krasinski as Jack Ryan
Related
I'll Say It: I Think A James Bond TV Show In Amazon's Hands Could Actually Be Great

James Bond's new creative controllers haven't revealed much about what the next 007 project will look like, but they have proven they're capable.

5

There are only a few other unused Fleming titles available, and some of them could work. "The Hildebrand Rarity," published in Playboy in 1960, is among the strongest, but "The Property of a Lady" might also be a good title. The only other remaining Bond story with an unused title by Fleming himself was "007 in New York,” which ran in the New York Herald Tribune in 1963. While Bond’s agent number hasn’t yet been used in a film’s title, it could be an interesting way to begin a new era in the franchise.

The franchise is finally beginning to move forward into a new era, and news of what that might look like in Bond 26 should be coming in the near future. The series is a priority for Amazon MGM, and building a sustainable new iteration that feels fresh is important. However, it is also important that the character's roots in the classic stories by Fleming be a core component of this new reboot. Giving the next film a title like Risico or The Hildebrand Rarity might be the perfect way to do this.