It all started with Ian Fleming’s series of twelve novels (plus various short stories). The film series kicked off with Dr. No, starring Sean Connery, and last year’s Skyfall marked the 23rd entry in the ‘official’ series. Six actors have played "Bond. James Bond" altogether: well, until we count all the 'unofficial' efforts...
While the main Fleming book series and ‘Eon Productions’ films have proven the most popular versions of Bond, they’re far from the whole story. Since Fleming’s death in 1964, various authors have written new James Bond stories. Most prolifically was John Gardner, who managed to produce 16 novels altogether (two were novelisations of films). That's more, as you might have realised, than Fleming himself.
Gardner's successor Raymond Benson wrote six novels and three novelisations. More recently, Sebastian Faulks and Jefferey Deaver have tackled the character. The former’s Devil May Care jumped back to follow on directly from Fleming’s series, while Deaver modernised Bond with a post 9/11 tale in 2011's Carte Blanche. Oh, and there's also Charlie Higson’s ‘Young Bond’ books.
The films, meanwhile, have also forged their own path. After adapting all Fleming's novels, the producers mostly chose to focus on original stories rather than ones based on the novels (Casino Royale being an exception). That’s not the whole story, of course. There has also been a pair of external Casino Royale adaptations: one for television, and one a Peter Sellers starring parody film. Never Say Never Again was an alternative Thunderball adaptation released independently from the main series. There are also video game and cartoon spin-offs to consider.
The future
In the middle of all this confusion, it goes without saying one consistent timeline or character has never emerged. Different writers, actors and directors bringing their own twist to the iconic character, while retaining some familiar traits and features (as well as all those memorable lines of dialogue). Versions range from the gritty, realistic Bond tales to the more preposterous ones told in Moonraker and Die Another Day. And the release of William Boyd’s novel Solo this week sees yet another take on Bond, albeit once again returning to a 1960s setting.
The question is, where does Bond go from here? Boyd has his own views, telling The Guardian he hopes for a move away from the ‘womaniser’ Bond to a character who “wants a relationship” (a concept explored in the Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace films, not to mention the still divisive On Her Majesty’s Secret Service).
Boyd explains “the thing is with the literary Bond, as opposed to the cinematic Bond, is that he's a very complex character. I mean he is a cool, capable guy and he's a very successful operative, but what makes him fascinating for readers is the darker side...I think that three-dimensional portrait of him you get in the novels explains why he's not just some cardboard caricature spy”. Boyd’s comments illustrate a wish to take the character in more complex directions, a trend we’ve also seen in all the newer films.
As for the films themselves, Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig are set to return for the 24th film, due in 2015. Given the huge commercial and critical success of Skyfall, it's unlikely the character is going to be absent from screens any time soon, although the direction the series will go is anyone's guess. With the novels constantly jumping back in time, perhaps a return to the 1960s style Bond could actually prove a fresh, radical twist to the cinematic formula after a run of contemporary, grittier films.
William Boyd also has his view on where the film series should go, telling the Irish Independent this week he’d love to see Daniel Day Lewis' take on Bond. Now that we’d watch.
