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Here's Why the Next James Bond Film Is Called Spectre

J ames Bond is headed back to the big screen next year, and the new film finally has a name: Spectre . Bond superfans are giddy about this title. Here’s why.

Luckily, Spectre is easier to decipher than some, more difficult past Bond titles like Quantum of Solace . Spectre, or rather SPECTRE, stands for the Sp ecial E xecutive for C ounter-intelligence, T errorism, R evenge and E xtortion, a global terrorist organization that plays a major role in the Bond stories. (You have to give them credit for stating their intentions openly with that acronym.) Many Bond villains count themselves as members of Spectre, including Dr. No ( Dr. No ), Emilio Largo ( Thunderball ) and, of course, Ernst Stavro Blofeld ( From Russia With Love , Thunderball and Diamonds Are Forever , to name but a few).

Spectre (the British spelling for specter, meaning ghost) was originally conceived by Bond novelist Ian Fleming in 1959 for the novel Thunderball as a villainous organization that could pose a threat to the British government even as the Cold War ended and political alliances shifted. (A savvy move: 56 years later, Spectre still lives on.)

Spectre is a commercial organization led by Blofeld—you may know him as the guy with the fluffy white cat, played amongst other actors by Donald Pleasence, Telly Savalas and Max Von Sydow—that recruits its members from criminal groups all over the world like the Gestapo, the Mafia and a fictional Soviet counterintelligence agency called SMERSH. In short, Spectre is not messing around: Members who fail to meet directives—like, “Kill James Bond”—face death.

In From Russia With Love , Blofeld explains using Siamese fighting fish as a metaphor (typical long-winded Bond villains!) that Spectre’s main objective is to create conflict between two superpowers, wait until they are both vulnerable and then strike. The organization has no alliances and will blackmail both good and evil rulers alike.

Its assassins also tend to be pretty ruthless: From Russia With Love’ s Red Grant practices murdering real people wearing Sean Connery Bond masks; the same movie’s Rosa Klebb stabs people with a poisonous needle at the tip of her shoe; in Diamonds Are Forever Mr. Wint and Mr. Kidd drown a schoolteacher and then joke about sending pictures of the body to her students.

Blofeld, however, is the most evil villain of them all: Pleasence’s take on the bald-headed criminal mastermind with a scar over his eye in You Only Live Twice has inspired many an action villain, including the parody Dr. Evil in Austin Powers . At one point Blofeld even murders Bond’s wife in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. (Yes, Bond got married at one point, though he wasted little time after she died hopping back into bed with the various Bond girls.)

MORE: This Is the Awesome Car James Bond Will Drive In His Next Movie

Blofeld disappears after For Your Eyes Only because the filmmakers lost the rights to the character. (He even goes unnamed in that last movie, killed by Bond before the opening credits by being unceremoniously dropped down a smokestack from a helicopter.) The producers only just sorted out the legal issues in the past few years, which means that the Bond series can once again use the character Blofeld and the organization Spectre. In short, the return of Spectre has been highly anticipated, which is perhaps why the filmmakers opted to use the organization’s name as the title.

Some fans thought that perhaps Spectre would be behind the events in 2006’s Casino Royale : Bond tracks down a then-nameless criminal organization at the end of that film. But in the sequel, Quantum of Solace , audiences learn that the organization’s name is, in fact, just Quantum (though it has many Spectre-like elements). Spectre’ s new, vague synopsis suggests that Daniel Craig’s Bond will only just discover Spectre for the first time in the new film. (Remember, Casino Royale rebooted the Bond franchise, so Craig’s Bond has not yet met Blofeld or any other of the Spectre villains.)

But can the new Bond film live up to Spectre’s reputation? Hopefully. Filmmakers have announced that Christoph Waltz and Andrew Scott have been cast in the film—both of whom are known for playing particularly popular and formidable villains, Waltz as the Nazi Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds and Scott as Moriarty in BBC’s Sherlock . Might one of them turn out to be Blofeld? That’s what Bond fanatics are hoping.

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Saharan Crater Facility

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The exterior of SPECTRE 's crater facility.

The Saharan Crater Facility was the fictional headquarters of the terrorist organisation SPECTRE during the 2015 James Bond film Spectre . The entire facility, dedicated to sifting through intelligence provided by the " Nine Eyes " programme, was constructed inside a North African meteorite impact crater.

• 1 Film History
• 2 Filming Locations
• 4 References

Film History [ ]

To be added

Filming Locations [ ]

SPECTRE breaks Guinness World Record

The exterior was filmed in June 2015 around a crater called Gara Medouar near the Moroccan city of Erfoud . [1] The sequence depicting the climactic destruction of SPECTRE 's facility used 8418 litres of fuel and 33kg of explosives [2] and holds a Guinness World Record for the "Largest film stunt explosion" in cinematic history, with the record credited to production designer Chris Corbould . [3]

Gallery [ ]

References [ ]

• ↑ " 'Spectre', 'King Tut' and 'The Book of the Dead' Sail To Morocco ", variety.com/ , 6 December 2014. Retrieved on 27 February 2015.  
• ↑ " SPECTRE breaks Guinness World Record ", youtube.com/ , 10 November 2015. Retrieved on 24 February 2016.  
• ↑ Rachel Swatman (10 November 2015). Latest Bond adventure Spectre sets record for Largest film stunt explosion ever - watch incredible clip . Guinness World Records . Retrieved on 11 November 2015.
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Spectre (I) (2015)

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Ernst Stavro Blofeld

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Franz Oberhauser , better known as Ernst Stavro Blofeld , is the main antagonist of the rebooted James Bond film series.

He is the founder and leader of the terrorist organization Spectre , as well as James Bond 's foster brother and archenemy — Having manipulating behind the scenes of many of Bond's past run-ins, including Mr. White , Le Chiffre , Dominic Greene , and Raoul Silva .

He was portrayed by Christoph Waltz , who also played Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds , Benjamin Chudnofsky in The Green Hornet , August Rosenbluth in Water for Elephants , Cardinal Richelieu in The Three Musketeers , Mandrake in Epic , Bert Hanson in Horrible Bosses 2 , Walter Keane in Big Eyes , Léon Rom in The Legend of Tarzan , Miles Sellars in Most Dangerous Game and Count Volpe in Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio .

• 1 Personality
• 4.1.1 Spectre
• 4.1.2 No Time to Die
• 4.1.3 Miscellaneous
• 6 External links
• 7 Navigation

Personality [ ]

Blofeld is an unpredictable, dangerous and utterly ruthless megalomaniac of the most diabolical kind. He is unbelievably resourceful and could access vast amounts of weaponry, technology, organizations, and illegal activities. In other words, he was able to create and control Spectre. He is an exceptionally calm, brave, and reserved person and addressed any problems in an insidiously relaxed manner, even if he was helpless while being held at gunpoint.

He is also extremely intelligent but in all of the worst ways. He is a master of psychological warfare and could intimidate people with his very presence, and as with all of his previous incarnations, he runs Spectre like an absolute totalitarian and tyrannical dictator, despising those who failed or betrayed him, with Mr. White being a prime example of what happens if anybody dares to quit Spectre. His sophistication makes him an unbelievable strategist and enables him to outwit practically any opponent; it also makes him far-seeing and cunning to a fault, and he knew all of the details of his opponents' moves, right down to placing a bulletproof sheet of glass between him and James Bond in their final confrontation.

Blofeld is also intensely sadistic, describing himself to James Bond as "the author of all [his] pain". Throughout the film, he ruthlessly plays several cruel and elaborate games with James' mind concerning his past and the people he has lost his entire life - Vesper, M, his parents, etc., torturing Bond by drilling holes in his head and penetrating his brain, remaining calm and smiling when James screams in pain and condemning Mr. White to a very painful death by thallium poisoning. Blofeld also possesses little self-preservation, despite his nefarious manner. Even when finally held at gunpoint by James, he over-confidently goaded him to pull the trigger, though James decided to spare him, knowing that he was not worth it. His extreme sadism ultimately became his defeat because his need of seeing Bond suffer just because he feels that his father favoured Bond instead of him prevents him from a more pragmatic murder, for example, killing him when he is knocked out in Spectre's headquarters.

In prison, Blofeld still retains his grudge toward Bond, organizing the destruction of Vesper's tomb, sabotaging the relationship between Swann and his adoptive brother, and trying to kill Bond in Cuba when he was in a Spectre's assembly by making him the first victim of the Heracles bioweapon that he had his agents steal for nefarious purposes. Just as sadistic and petty as before his imprisonment, he is shown to love taunting Bond about him needing his help and how he was responsible for the last attempts against James, which caused him to quickly distrust Madeleine and sever all communication with her for 5 years. However, Blofeld's pettiness proves to be his downfall, as Bond, enraged by Blofeld's cruel revelation, temporarily loses it and strangles him, unknowingly contaminating Blofeld with the Heracles nanobots that led to his death.

Victims [ ]

• Hannes Oberhauser (murdered by Blofeld out of jealousy against Bond)
• Gostan Safin (poisoned to death by Mr. White on Blofeld's orders)
• Lyutsifer Safin (survived, but left facially disfigured and traumatized; later shot dead by Bond)
• Ernesto Montes (shot dead by Medrano)
• Ernesto's unnamed wife and eldest daughter (raped and strangled by Medrano)
• Vesper Lynd (committed suicide by drowning)
• Kim Park (shot dead by Craig Mitchell )
• Craig Mitchell (shot death by Bond for being in league with Quantum)
• Strawberry Fields (drowned in crude oil by several Quantum agents on Greene's orders)
• René Mathis (shot dead by Colonel Carlos )
• Andrew Surry (cover blown by Silva and executed)
• Ben Daheer (cover blown by Silva and executed)
• Paul Inglis (cover blown by Silva and executed)
• Naz Husein (cover blown by Silva and executed by terrorists)
• Steve Benelisha (cover blown by Silva and executed)
• Ronson (shot dead by Patrice)
• Olivia Mansfield/M (fatally wounded by Silva's thugs)
• Max Denbigh (fell to his death after being exposed for being in league with Spectre)
• Dr. Hardy (shot dead by Primo )
• Dr. Symes (shot dead by Primo)
• Valdo Obruchev (pushed into an acid pool by Nomi for being in league with Safin)
• James Bond (perished in a missile explosion following Blofeld and Safin's deaths)
• Gregg Beam (arrested and taken into CIA custody for being in league with Quantum)
• Felix Leiter (shot dead by Logan Ash )
• Logan Ash (crushed to death in a rolling car by Bond in revenge for murdering Leiter)
• Mrs. Swann (shot dead by Safin)
• Adolph Gettler (shot dead by Bond)
• Yusef Kabira (arrested and taken into MI6 custody)
• Le Chiffre (shot dead by Mr. White on Blofeld's orders for his failure to secure money)
• Steven Obanno (strangled by Bond)
• Solange Dimitrios (tortured to death by Quantum agents on Le Chiffre's orders)
• Valenka (shot dead by Mr. White)
• Kratt (shot dead by Mr. White)
• Mollaka Danso (shot dead by Bond)
• Carlos Nikolic (perished in a bomb explosion)
• Leo (framed and arrested for Obanno's death)
• Dominic Greene (shot dead by Spectre agents on Blofeld's orders for exposing Quantum's secrets)
• Luiz Medrano (shot dead by Camille Montes in revenge for murdering her family)
• Colonel Carlos (shot dead by Bond)
• Elvis (perished in a hydrogen explosion)
• Lieutenant Orso (killed by Camille Montes)
• Edmund Slate (stabbed by Bond)
• Marchetti Pilot (perished in a plane explosion)
• Raoul Silva (stabbed in the back by Bond)
• Severine (shot dead by Silva)
• Patrice (fell to his death from a skyscraper)
• Boat Captain (accidentally shot dead by Silva)
• Dr. Vogel (infected with nanobots by Valdo Obruchev )
• Moreau (infected with nanobots by Obruchev)
• Abrika (infected with nanobots by Obruchev)
• Guerra (infected with nanobots by Obruchev)
• Marshall (infected with nanobots by Obruchev)
• Mr. Hinx (killed by Bond)
• Valerian (killed by Mr. Hinx)
• Marco Sciarra (fell to his death from a flying helicopter)
• Lorenzo (killed by Bond)
• Gallo (shot dead by Bond)
• Francesco and Marco (shot dead by Bond)
• Primo (killed by Bond via electromagnetic attack for being in league with Safin)
• 160,000 women and children (sold into slavery and prostitution through sex trafficking)

Gallery [ ]

Spectre [ ].

No Time to Die [ ]

Miscellaneous [ ]

• Ironically enough, Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers series (who is a parody of Blofeld) was revealed to be Austin Powers' brother in the third film Austin Powers in Goldmember .
• During his military service alongside Mr. White, it was said that the two conflicted with a group of bandits in which their military team died and after this, Oberhauser killed the bandits and left White in the deserts, with founding Spectre as of the name of their military legion; Spectre.
• The organization's name Spectre means a ghost, a spirit. This means that the organization members and agents were activated in the shadows, and the octopus motif and logo symbolize Blofeld's behind-the-scenes reach to manipulate global events to his favour via the proxies he sends out and to dominate the world.
• Blofeld is the Big Bad of the entire reboot series ( Casino Royale , Quantum of Solace , Skyfall , Spectre , and No Time To Die ), as he is the man responsible for assigning the main threats ( Le Chiffre , Mr. White , Dominic Greene , and Raoul Silva ) in their plots, using them all as pawns as part of his plan to wreak psychological pain on James Bond. He even is responsible for ordering the deaths of Lyutsifer Safin 's family, which led Safin to murder Blofeld and his remaining Spectre members and indirectly cause Bond's death at the cost of Safin's own life.
• His father, Hannes Oberhauser, first appeared in Ian Fleming's short story "Octopussy", as his death is the reason Bond gets involved in tracking down Dexter Smythe, the story's antagonist. However, Hannes and Blofeld were not related in the novel continuity.
• To create Blofeld's facial scar, the film's producers used CGI and not makeup as the filmmakers of the old Bond films did with Blofeld.
• The scar Blofeld receives from Bond's exploding watch is a reference to a similar scar that Donald Pleasence's incarnation of Blofeld has in You Only Live Twice . However, unlike the former film, the origin of his disfigurement is not only revealed but also shown on screen.
• As Quantum was revealed to be a division within Spectre, which would support the idea that Quantum member Dominic Greene was executed by a hitman on Blofeld's orders.
• Blofeld reminding Bond of how whenever he interfered with Blofeld's world he would retaliate by destroying his implies that Bond's foiling of Quantum's Tierra project led Blofeld to enlist Silva to destroy MI6.
• Blofeld is compared to three animals. The first one is an octopus, the symbol of Spectre, which symbolizes its omnipresence and behind-the-scenes reach to tilt geopolitical events in its favour and take over the world. The second is a cat since not only does he have one like his original incarnation, but he displays some cat-like mannerisms. The third is a cuckoo, which he calls Bond multiple times in a mocking way and alludes to both his feelings towards his adoptive brother and how he despises his father for thinking he loved James more than him.
• Unlike the original portray, this version of Blofield rules his organization with the combination of respect and fear not just terror alone. Furthermore, he also far more brave in the face of death and treats his subordinates much better as he does not kill them for petty reasons like the original version.
• The explosion of Blofeld's base in Spectre was at the time, the largest explosion in a movie done by practical effects, until it was broken by the Trinity Nuclear test in the biopic Oppenheimer .

External links [ ]

• Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Reboot Series) on the Pure Evil Wiki
• Ernst Stavro Blofeld on the James Bond Wiki

Navigation [ ]

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30+ Famous Actors You May Have Forgotten Were In James Bond Movies

Here's some familair faces you may have forgotten met up with 007.

Through over six decades of James Bond movies , there has been a wide assortment of notable actors that have played heroes, villains, and roles in-between in the long running saga. As there’s 25 movies to keep track of, you might still be surprised by who shows up in a 007 adventure upon rewatching the series. With that in mind, here’s a huge list of people you may have forgotten teamed up with Commander Bond on the big screen.

Jack Lord - Dr. No

Before playing the original Steve McGarrett in Hawaii Five-O , actor Jack Lord got to originate another pop culture landmark. As the first actor to play Felix Leiter in Sean Connery’s James Bond movies, Dr. No saw Lord helping foil SPECTRE before instructing Danno to book anyone in another tropical crime fighting epic.

Robert Shaw - From Russia With Love

A good number of moviegoers would remember Robert Shaw best as the iconic sailor Quint, one of Jaws’ intrepid shark hunters. Before he got to put his hunting skills to the test against a Great White, Shaw played Red Grant: a SPECTRE hitman sent to kill James Bond. Unfortunately for Grant, a good thrashing on the Orient Express prevented him from completing his mission; all thanks to a wine based faux pas.

Donald Pleasence - You Only Live Twice

Halloween’s Michael Myers employed a mask to instill his own brand of chilling villainy. But years prior to tangling with that evil himself, Donald Pleasence became the first actor to show off Blofeld’s heinous visage in You Only Live Twice . Admit it, you probably remember Mike Myers ’ parody of this character from Austin Powers more than the OG; which is ok.

Charles Gray - You Only Live Twice

Speaking of actors that have played Ernst Stavro Blofeld, The Rocky Horror Picture Show vet Charles Gray is also in that boat himself. However, the James Bond role people may have forgotten he played was that of 007’s ally Henderson in You Only Live Twice . Kind of fitting, as his Blofeld would be Sean Connery ’s second tangle with the iconic nemesis.

Telly Savalas - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

What’s one more Blofeld for old times? As he’d go on to tear up World War II in Kelly’s Heroes , as well as fight crime with a lollipop addiction in Kojack , Telly Savalas got to be the big bad of James Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service which is George Lazenby’s solo outing as 007 . Savalas is arguably the best Blofeld of the bunch, exuding both charm and menace.

Joanna Lumley - On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

Joanna Lumley shot to stardom through roles in series like Sapphire and Steel and Absolutely Fabulous , as well as another British spy staple The Avengers . Much like her fellow alums Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg, Lumley found herself cast early on in the 007 legacy, as one of Blofeld’s “Angels of Death” in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Yaphet Kotto - Live And Let Die

Yaphet Kotto made a name for himself throughout all sorts of genres, thanks to roles in Alien , The Running Man , and NBC’s Homicide: Life on the Streets . And among all of those valued credits was the dual role of Dr. Kananga / Mr. Big in the debut of Roger Moore’s James Bond , Live and Let Die . Both sides of this coin fit the veteran performer to a tee, making for one of the most intriguing Bond villains of all time.

Charles Dance - For Your Eyes Only

Believe it or not, Tywin Lannister once tried to kill James Bond on a ski slope! Game of Thrones’ icon Charles Dance played a heavy trying to ice Roger Moore ’s 007. Dance was even courted as a potential James Bond , but he graciously turned down the opportunity to audition as he didn’t feel he was a good fit for the role. 

Patrick Macnee - A View To A Kill

The British spy series The Avengers was another cultural icon that made many an actor into memorable agents of chaos and/or order. Patrick Macnee is one such icon, as he played series lead John Steed with a couple Bond girls joining in on the fun. So when Macnee was cast to assist Roger Moore in his final James Bond adventure, A View to a Kill , it felt like an ambitious crossover that was years in the making.

Dolph Lundgren - A View To A Kill

1985 was the year to have Dolph Lundgren playing your anti-capitalist villain. Not only did he square off against Sylvester Stallone in Rocky IV , but he also found time to play a KGB agent tasked with keeping Max Zorin (Christopher Walken) in line in A View to a Kill . And if Grace Jones wasn’t Walken’s hired muscle, he may have stood a chance.

Joe Don Baker - The Living Daylights

Even die hard James Bond fans have had moments where they forget that Joe Don Baker actually played a 007 villain before he rejoined the series. Later playing Pierce Brosnan ’s American counterpart Jack Wade of the CIA, Baker first appeared in the series as The Living Daylights’ big bad Brad Whitaker. A madman fixated on military history, Whitaker would meet his Waterloo after Timothy Dalton’s James Bond sends him crashing into a model of that very same battle.

Carey Lowell - License To Kill

James Bond has always had a strong sense of law and order; so it’s only fitting that Law and Order cast member Carey Lowell got to play one of his partners in License to Kill . As Pam Bouvier, Lowell was involved in one of James Bond’s most personal vendettas ever recorded. She even showed off her jealous streak in the end, romancing 007 by confessing her feelings in a swimming pool scene out of a rom-com.

Benicio del Toro - License To Kill

A young and hungry Benicio del Toro went toe to toe with both Carey Lowell and Timothy Dalton in License to Kill . Playing henchman Dario, his skills were employed by drug dealer/business magnate Franz Sanchez (Robert Davi). It’s just a shame that 007 got the drop on this young buck, which resulted in a demise so brutal that it’s cut in some versions of the film.

Wayne Newton - License To Kill

Legendary crooner and enemy of Clark Griswold, Wayne Newton is also quite an actor. Nowhere did he show that than in License to Kill , where he played the sleazy preacher Professor Joe Butcher. The perfect nexus of ‘80s influences, Newton’s character was part of how Franz Sanchez’s cartel would send secret messages to its network of buyers and sellers; through the power of televangelism.

Alan Cumming - Goldeneye

Boris Grishenko is one of the most memorable presences in 007 history, making quite an impression in Goldeneye . But many probably forget that the chameleon behind this performance is none other than the insanely talented Alan Cumming . Though he may not have been as invincible as he thought, Cumming’s nasty nerd is hard to stay mad at, even when he gets frozen in liquid nitrogen.

Minnie Driver - Goldeneye

There’s a fine line between cameo appearances and secondary roles that appear as a brief blip in the James Bond world. Otherwise, we’d be able to claim people like Gerard Butler and Hugh Bonneville as entries on this list. While their appearances were too brief to mention, Minnie Driver’s brief but beautiful role in Goldeneye sees her almost get Pierce Brosnan killed, while also sassing back her on-screen sugar daddy Robbie Coltrane.

Robbie Coltrane - Goldeneye/The World Is Not Enough

Here’s another pop culture intersection that’s hard to believe: Hagrid was a sworn frenemy of James Bond! Appearing in both Goldeneye and The World is Not Enough , the late great Robbie Coltrane played Valentin Zukovsky, an ex-KGB player who loved and loathed 007. Coltrane’s patter with Pierce Brosnan is invaluable, which probably led to Zukovsky returning for a meatier role in The World is Not Enough.

Michelle Yeoh - Tomorrow Never Dies

Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh has been Everything Everywhere All At Once , but early on in her career she was paired up with Pierce Brosnan’s Commander Bond to stop a madman. Tomorrow Never Dies saw the action star playing Wai Lin, a Chinese military officer who wants to prevent World War III as much as 007 does. If only she'd returned as supposedly planned in Die Another Day .

Teri Hatcher - Tomorrow Never Dies

While not quite a desperate housewife at this phase in her career, Teri Hatcher was still a popular actor that managed to land a Bond film with her clout. Playing 007’s ex-flame Paris Carver, her marriage to media mogul/villain Elliot Carver (Jonathan Pryce) put her in the crosshairs of fate.

Vincent Schiavelli - Tomorrow Never Dies

Character acting legend Vincent Schiavelli has been in everything from One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest to Death to Smoochy . And thanks to being cast in Tomorrow Never Dies as the diabolical Dr. Kaufman, Schiavelli was able to cross off being a Bond baddie from his to-do list.

Denise Richards - The World Is Not Enough

Denise Richards has gotten a lot of unfair criticism for her role as The World is Not Enough’s Dr. Christmas Jones. But that hasn’t stopped her from defending her part in 007 history , and rightfully so. You may have forgotten her snappy patter with Pierce Brosnan, but it’s not hard to fall back into the rhythm between these two well matched co-stars.

Robert Carlyle - The World Is Not Enough

One of the best red herrings in James Bond history, Robert Carlyle expertly played the role of terrorist Renard in The World is Not Enough . With his own motivations overshadowing the true villain of the piece, the Full Monty and Once Upon A Time star may have slipped your mind in the world of 007, but he was indeed a pretty fantastic part of it all.

Rosamund Pike - Die Another Day

Secret villain Miranda Frost was the perfect warm up for future Gone Girl star Rosamund Pike. Playing who seemed to be an MI6 ally in Die Another Day , Pierce Brosnan’s James Bond eventually outed her as a colder player than she initially let on. The results were quite heated, especially as she would have to face off against true Bond ally Jinx (Halle Berry) in the big third act showdown.

Michael Madsen - Die Another Day

We’re never going to get that Pierce Brosnan/Quentin Tarantino James Bond movie that could have adapted Casino Royale . That being said, we may have gotten a taste of what a QT Bond character might have been like in Damian Falco, the CIA officer played by Tarantino vet Michael Madsen in Die Another Day . Which is enough to spark the FOMO all over again.

Tobias Menzies - Casino Royale

Before he terrorized Sam Heughan in Outlander , Tobias Menzies was a heroic party that assisted Daniel Craig’s James Bond in Casino Royale . Playing Villers, the right hand man to M (Judi Dench) before Tanner was revived in the post-reboot climate, Menzies saw some pretty harrowing action in the Bond franchise. Like that time James almost died due to a malfunctioning defibrillator. 

David Harbour - Quantum of Solace

An early career win for Violent Night’s David Harbour , the actor’s appearance as an antagonist in Quantum of Solace is another reason people shouldn’t sleep on this movie. As the morally corrupt Gregg Beam, Harbour is a delight in all of his scummy brilliance, just before the world would see him in a much more heroic light in Stranger Things .

Stana Katic - Quantum of Solace

Solving crimes alongside Nathan Fillion on Castle is Stana Katic’s major claim to fame. And just before she started babysitting a mystery author turned sleuth, she was a crucial part to Daniel Craig’s James Bond gaining closure over Vesper Lynd’s death; thanks to her appearance at the end of Quantum of Solace .

Helen McCrory - Skyfall

If you ever wanted to see Narscissa Malfoy and Voldemort battle it out, minus the wands and makeup, Skyfall should be added to your watch list at once. The late Helen McCrory and Ralph Fiennes face off during a hearing that questions the effectiveness of M’s leadership, which sees sparks fly in some heated verbal battle.

Albert Finney - Skyfall

There was once a time where Sean Connery was considered for a role in Skyfall . Instead, cooler heads prevailed, and Kincade, the groundskeeper of the old Bond estate, was cast as the legendary Albert Finney. I dare anyone else to say “Welcome to Skyfall” and make it sound as awesome.

Andrew Scott - Spectre

Though the world knows him as Sherlock’s Moriarty, actor Andrew Scott was also a thorn in the side of James Bond and his MI6 family. Popping up at exactly the wrong time in Spectre , Scott’s character Max Denbigh posed a great threat to the 00 program and all it stood for. 

Monica Bellucci - Spectre

Out of the extensive legacy of James Bond women, Monica Bellucci’s arrival in Spectre is one that was possibly the most hard fought. After Bellucci missed out on two Pierce Brosnan outings , seeing her romanced by Daniel Craig’s 007 was a triumph to behold.

Jimmy Dean - Diamonds Are Forever

The world at large will always remember actor/country singer/breakfast meat magnate Jimmy Dean for those various facets of his talent. But what most may not recall is the fact that he was also Willard White, the reclusive millionaire that Blofeld used as a cover for his grand schemes in Diamonds Are Forever .

With over 60 years under its belt, the James Bond legacy has certainly seen a lot of people come and go. As the next age of 007 dawns, who knows what the future will bring, and what major stars will appear only to be periodical surprises when revisiting the Bond adventures?

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Every James Bond Actor to Play the Role

There have been 7 total actors who have played james bond.

If someone asks you what your favorite spy movie is, it’s nearly impossible to keep James Bond from coming to mind. With gadgets, gizmos, guns, girls, and goons, James Bond is the gallant good guy who introduced the global audience to the thrill of on-screen espionage. Though the world has had time to reflect on the shortcomings of this flawed character and his over-the-top machismo, Bond remains one of the most exemplary and immortal characters to ever exist in modern media. Though James Bond has been present in film (and literature) for 70+ years, there seems to be no end in sight as new actors for new iterations are considered for the role every decade or so.

How many James Bond Actors are There?

The most iconic movie spy of all time, James Bond has been portrayed by multiple actors since his film debut in 1962. There are a total of 7 actors who have played the role of our beloved spy: Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. All have brought their own unique twist to the character and all are worthy of mention in this article.

1. Sean Connery – 1962 - 1967, 1971, 1983

Films : Dr No, From Russia With Love, Goldfinger, Thunderball, You Only Live Twice, Diamonds are Forever, Never Say Never Again (Non-EON production)

Best known for his role as James Bond (despite having almost 100 acting credits on IMDB), Connery is undoubtedly the best and most favored to have ever portrayed the slick, sexy spy. Though Connery very much earned the title, being the first to step into these metaphorically gigantic shoes must have been more like tailor-made dress shoes for him. Starring in what are, to this day, a few of the best Bond movies of all time (Goldfinger, Dr. No), the story of his success after these films is no mystery to unravel.

2. David Niven – 1967

Films : Casino Royale (Non-EON production)

A truly one-of-a-kind portrayal comes from the comedic prowess of David Niven: an unfortunately, largely forgotten role from a top-line British actor. As the only spoof movie on this list, Niven stands out in uniqueness but falls short due to the absolutely polarizing tone of this one-off film. While this film garnered a cult following over the years despite its critical reception, fans of Bond are quick to forget it amongst the crowd.

3. George Lazenby – 1969

Films : On Her Majesty's Secret Service

The only actor to portray Bond only once – in a serious role, that is – is George Lazenby: an unjustly hated replacement for Sean Connery at the time. While his acting was indeed in the lower rankings of the 7 iterations, the immediate hatred he received even before the film's release ensured his fate as a one-and-done James Bond. Over 50 years after its release, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service has been hailed as more of a gem to audiences than had been originally perceived. Some even say that, at its core, it is one of the best Bond films but give little credit to poor George.

4. Roger Moore – 1973 - 1985

Films : Live and Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill

Holding the record for most Bond films starred in, Roger Moore steps in for an impressive 12-year, 7-film streak as James Bond. Though the quality of the films he starred in greatly varies, Moore became a pill much easier for audiences and fans to swallow. Bringing more of a cheeky, goofy quality to the character, the average Roger Moore Bond film is noticeably more campy than the Sean Connery predecessors but ultimately checks all the boxes that a Bond film should.

5. Timothy Dalton – 1987 - 1989

Films : The Living Daylights, License to Kill

One of the more arguably underrated actors to portray Bond is Timothy Dalton: Mr. Eyebrows himself. While he ultimately undersold audiences resulting in his measly two-film streak, Dalton brought a quality of darkness to the character that would change the tone of Bond films forever. As usual, the focus is always on the actor portraying the character rather than the film itself, which is why these two arguably underrated Bond films have been largely overlooked – probably also since License to Kill has been quite a popular film title since.

6. Pierce Brosnan – 1995 - 2002

Films : GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, Die Another Day

Commonly referred to as the second best (for some, the best) actor to play Bond, Pierce Brosnan with his sharp looks and undeniable charm was almost immediately accepted by viewers and critics alike. Helped along by the nearly-perfected Bond film formula, Pierce combined all the greatest things about past iterations and made it his own. Though the films are a bit over-the-top at times, the representation of all Bond film elements can be seen through a whole new lens that makes them truly unique.

7. Daniel Craig – 2006 - 2021

Films : Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, Spectre, No Time to Die

Another actor to be severely criticized even before his first Bond film release, Daniel Craig has since carved out his very own, very special streak of Bond films that are now seen as a great re-imagining of what Bond films can be. As the first series of Bond movies to follow a clear chronological order and continuation of events, Craig was given the rare chance to develop this character into a dark, embittered, lonely narrative with an earth-shattering conclusion. These films also broke the fourth wall a bit by cementing the concept into the canon that 007 is just a number: when he is gone, another comes to take his place as 007.

How to Watch the James Bond Movies in Order

If you’re looking for a more detailed list of how to watch all of the movies by actor or release date, look no further than our guide to the James Bond movies in order . While most of the Bond films do not follow a continued narrative throughout the timeline, it’s still very useful to have a full list of all the Bond films, their release dates, and who is starring in each one.

Connor Sheppard is an Oregon-grown culture writer for IGN. Intrigued from a young age by pop culture and movies, he has developed into an experienced critic and consumer of all things media. From his time earning a bachelor's degree in digital communications at Oregon State University, he found a love for writing and appreciating specific actors and directors in the many films he watches.

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