Provided there is anything to this - and it would have to be if Lowden is still a candidate - it would at least prove BOND 26’s supposed origin story/very early Bond career isn’t set in stone. Even a flashback or a prologue set 10 years earlier could easily be done by making Bond (and whoever needs it) younger by CGI. That would be a bit much if the whole film is going to revolve about a very young Bond.
So there, it’s possible we simply get a Bond who’s given a mission and nothing else. 
I loved and continue to love Craig‘s Bond.
But it is high time that this myth about him being the best and unsurpassable be laid to rest.
After Connery there was still room for the next wonderful incarnations.
After Craig there will also be room.
I still think Connery and Moore are the equal best. But I think Craig stands just below them, which I consider to be a very high honour. It’s going to take something really special to reach that level for me but my mind is open. I want the next era to be as successful as possible. I remember feeling nervous about casting after Brosnan left and things turned out fine.
That’s because it always does turn out fine in the long term. Every actor who has been cast in the role has brought something essential to the franchise. We have yet to have an outright poor casting choice in the role of 007 and I don’t expect that streak to be broken this time around, especially given the behind-the-camera talent that they’ve assembled for this.
I would agree. The two who get the weaker reps outside of fandom are the pair who were not around long enough to cement their new take following two popular, and very different, takes.
What I do like about an actor like Lowden, based on the little I’ve seen, is the possibility we could have the lighter elements of Moore or Brosnan highlighted more prominently. It would be a good contrast to make after what we’ve just had.
Denis Villeneuve, being 58, puts his Bond awakening smack dab in the Roger Moore era. I expect it will have influence on his take on Bond.
Lowden’s part in Slow Horses is actually not so far from Bond. River Cartwright is - was - a young spook pretty good at the game who only was squeezed out of Five because he’s seen too much (without knowing what it meant). Cartwright could have had a career even if his grandfather hadn’t been the grey eminence Smiley figure steering the Park from the wings - and in later books/seasons we learn how close to a 00 he might have come…
First Light’s Bond was more comedic than I was expecting. It was developed and published without Amazon’s involvement but it may prove to be a trend. Time will tell. I think a Denis Villeneuve film would still have moody and psychological aspects.
Amazon came in about half way for them, the director mentioned it one of the bts videos that “the third party” changed about halfway, but in both cases just let them get on with it with only the occasional note.
I must admit I’m really struggling to get my head around a moody Denis Villeneuve film with a Roger Moore -style lightness to it. Not saying it’s not possible - I’m simply yet to be convinced.
I don’t think First Light will have any bearing on what Villenueve, Pascal, and company will do with the next film. It was commissioned by EON and actually put together by a separate company (IOI) from Amazon. Filmmakers like Villenueve, Pascal, and the rest of them, in addition to Amazon coming into this for their first crack at Bond, are going to want to put their own stamp on it rather than follow the lead of a video game studio.
I think a merge could work. Showing the cheerful flippancy he presents to the world really is a facade. He only has ‘friends’ because he sees them at work everyday. He’s out all night at the casino or alone with a martini. Something Dr. No (1962) depicted economically.
I‘m sure nobody involved wants to invoke Moore after Craig, and Lowden would certainly not want to get reviews like „what a wimp“.
I have never seen Villeneuve directing comedic scenes, so Lowden could at best try to act slightly less stoically than Craig.
He definitely is not a brooding tough guy, though, and maybe that forces Villeneuve out of his comfort zone.
This clip shows Lowden performing with subtle humour:
Oddly someone else recomended that clip to me earlier. In their case it was because of the Batman shout out being said to comissioner Gordon by someone who’d been in a different Nolan movie.
I think it’s really hilarious in a wonderfully understated manner which would suit Bond so well.
Anyone who can see something bondian in Lowden has much more imagination than I…
He has potential, as The Capture s1 demonstrated, but this says his agent told him to stop eye rolling at the question.
For those who havnt seen The Capture
Should say my favourites are still Lowden
Or someone who hasn’t even been thought of yet.
