There is a lingering sense of nervousness surrounding 007 First Light. Based on early impressions, the title appears to play it quite safe, opting for a linear approach that might not fully leverage IO’s established strengths as a studio. It raises the question: are the Bond license-holders at Amazon being too precious with their iconic character? One might assume IO couldn't get as experimental with someone else's intellectual property as they do with Agent 47.

However, recent insights suggest that navigating the massive scale of the James Bond franchise is far less complicated than expected when it comes to major narrative beats.

The ease of big decisions in 007 First Light

According to Rasmus Poulsen, the franchise art director for 007 First Light, nailing down the fundamental aspects of the character was surprisingly straightforward. While players might expect intense friction over the core identity of 007, the foundational elements were agreed upon early on.

"The youthful take has been a go from day one," Poulsen stated. "I think we put a lot of effort and honour into doing our homework, because we take this extremely seriously… the conversation gets easier when you have a foundation like that."

In fact, massive "tent-pole" decisions—such as establishing Bond as a younger man—were wrapped up in a jiffy. The real challenges lie in the granular details of the Bond aesthetic.

Why car colours caused development delays

While the big plot points settled easily, the development team found themselves stuck in endless loops over seemingly trivial details. Poulsen recalls that some of the strangest discussions were also the most time-consuming.

"Really weird things get discussed, right? … What colour car would Bond never drive? People think one thing, people think another thing. We go like, 'Well that's a weird discussion,'" Poulsen noted.

These bizarre offshoots could easily consume days of development, requiring up to three separate meetings just to resolve a single minor detail. The complexity often stems from the nuances of the character's "flavour," including:

  • Whether the vehicle is leased or owned.
  • Whether the car is rented locally or sourced elsewhere.
  • The specific branding of rental agencies, such as Hertz vs. Enterprise.

The mystery of the forbidden car colour

So, what is the one colour a Bond car should never be? According to the team's findings, the answer is white.

However, even this isn't a simple rule. The decision becomes complicated when considering the character's current status or the specific context of the scene. The team even faced the dilemma of historical precedent: after all, 007 famously drove a white Lotus Esprit in The Spy Who Loved Me.

It seems that while the core of 007 First Light is set, the fine details of the Bond universe will continue to require many more meetings to perfect.