James Bond Video Game Star Backs First Light’s Lead for Next 007

Let's be honest, speculating about the next James Bond has practically become its own Olympic sport. The rumor mill is spinning so fast it could power the Aston Martin. This time, the chatter isn't coming from a tabloid columnist or some random guy on Twitter, but from someone much closer to Bond's world: Lennie James. You might know him from 'The Walking Dead', but now he’s flipping MI6 mentor duties for the upcoming '007: First Light' video game.

The Case for Patrick Gibson - From Pixels to the Big Screen?

During a recent Radio Times Gaming interview, Lennie James—who voices James Bond’s boss in the game—made his pick for who should fill Daniel Craig’s tux next. He’s got his eye on Patrick Gibson, the actor stepping into Bond’s shoes (well, digitally, anyway) in 'First Light.' According to James, Gibson isn’t just another name in the mix—he’s the guy Amazon would be 'mad not to consider' for the real-life 007 reboot.

Not exactly a shy endorsement, right? James seems to think Gibson’s performance in the game is strong enough to warrant a shot at the actual tuxedo—not just its animated equivalent. (And hey, maybe someone at Amazon is listening.)

The Actual State of the Next Bond

Here's where things stand: Amazon MGM Studios has officially tapped Denis Villeneuve (yeah, the 'Dune' guy—this is not going to be a subtle Bond movie) to tackle the next 007 film. But who’s actually going to play Bond? That part is still a giant question mark.

There have been loads of rumors, and the contenders make for a pretty wild spread:

• Jacob Elordi
• Callum Turner
• Harris Dickinson
• Louis Partridge (apparently the current frontrunner, best known from 'Enola Holmes')

But the studio hasn’t made anything official. So for now, the Bond sweepstakes are still very much open—and Gibson’s name, thanks to Lennie James, has just been tossed into the conversation in a not-so-subtle way.

Before the Reboot: '007: First Light' Is Coming First (Sort of)

While all these casting debates eat up headlines, Bond fans will be getting their fix another way first. IO Interactive is launching '007: First Light,' an action-adventure video game where—surprise—Patrick Gibson is debuting as a younger Bond. The game has a release date set for May 27, 2026. So if you want to get a sense of what Gibson could bring to Bond, this digital adventure is your sneak preview.

Until Amazon MGM actually reveals their pick, it’s anybody’s guess which of these contenders is going to end up ordering a vodka martini. But if Lennie James gets his wish, the next Bond might just be hitting the big screen straight out of the game world. Not the typical route—but then again, when has 007 ever played by the rules?