What Is the James Bond Codename Theory?

The big picture

• The Codename Theory canonizes all the Bond films, explaining why different actors have portrayed James Bond for decades.
• Recurring actors playing M, Q, Moneypenny support the code name theory.
• The Bond films of the Daniel Craig era solidify James Bond as a household name, essentially ending the code name theory.

For decades, fans have had many debates about the James Bond code name theory and whether James Bond is a real person or just a title. Although not officially canon, the Codename Theory supports the idea that many of the James Bond films throughout the decades are part of a shared universe, com different actors take the role. Over the years, the codename theory has evolved and been adopted by fans and scholars of the James Bond film franchise. But what is the James Bond code name theory? Is James Bond just a title handed down from generation to generation? It's time to dig deeper into the truth behind the James Bond codename theory.

The codename theory canonizes all previous James Bond films

With the James Bond film franchise totaling 25 films over the past sixty years, some fans adopted the code name theory to canonize all James Bond filmsfrom Dr. No a die another day, in the same single and cohesive universe. The Codename Theory explains James Bond's change of actors, meaning that James Bond is not the character's real name. James Bond is a title or code name who adopts a British Secret Intelligence Service spy. His real name remains anonymous. Just as 007 is James Bond's call sign, his name, James Bond, is an alias given to him by his superiors.

After Sean Connery left the franchise following You only live twice, George Lazenby took on the role in Her Majesty's Secret Service. At one point in the film, Lazenby's Bond literally says, “That never happened to the other fellow.” This can be interpreted in two ways. On the one hand, James Bond is breaking the fourth wall and making a meta-reference to the fact that the Bond franchise changed actors. Alternatively, under the codename theory, the new spy has taken the James Bond codename and refers to his predecessor, played by Connery, who previously took the codename.

Plus there's the 1967 parody feature, Casino Royale, not to be confused with the later film from 2006. While David Niven plays the “original” James Bond in the film. It features a group of other actors calling themselves “Bond” throughout the joint film. The original Bond played by Niven represents a ruserenaming all other MI-6 agents as Bond to confuse his enemies in SMERSH Essentially, the parody Casino Royale The movie is an example of how the codename theory would workalong with having a genuine original Bond.

The code name theory is supported by recurring actors representing M, Q and Miss Moneypenny

The codename theory allows a connection between the Bond films to continue from the 1960s to the 2000s and explains the recurring actors despite the change in James Bond performers. actor Bernard Lee portrayed M, the head of MI-6 and Bond's superior, from the first James Bond film, Dr. No, until Moonraker. M is also a code name for the character, so Robert Brown would take on the role in the new James Bond films in the 1980s, succeeding actor Bernard Lee.

When you think of James Bond, his Q-Branch quartermaster, also known as Q, also comes to mind. Q, famously played by Desmond Llewelyn from the decade of 1963 From Russia with love. Llewelyn played the role until 1999 with The world is not big enough. However, Llewelyn wasn't even the first “Q” in the James Bond film franchise. Peter Burton she was technically the first Q, named Major Boothroyd, in the first film, Dr. No. In The world is not big enoughLlewelyn's Q is training his successor, portrayed by John Cleesewho becomes the new boss of Q-Branch in the next movie, die another day.

In the same way, Lois Maxwell played the character of Miss Moneypenny in the Bond films from 1962 to 1985, so Maxwell was Miss Moneypenny herself to Connery, Lazenby and Roger Moore. Like James Bond, M, Miss Moneypenny and Q are also titles passed down from generation to generation. James Bond codename theory explains why multiple actors share the same actors M, Moneypenny and Q over decades. Connery or Moore's Bonds died or retired, but that wasn't always the case with M, Moneypenny or Q.

Daniel Craig's James Bond movies make things more complicated

Now, things get a little weird. following die another day, Pierce Brosnan retired from his on-screen role as James Bond. It was about time for another franchise reset. come in Daniel Craigwho became the new James Bond actor, starting with Casino Royale in 2006. Interestingly, even though it was a reboot of the franchise, Judi Denchwho assumed the role of M starting with GoldenEye in 1995, he stayed, staying for three more James Bond films. But wait a moment. Yes Casino Royale it's a reboot, why is judi dench still M? Is this supposed to be the same M from the Brosnan era or a new M played by the same actor? Don't overthink it. Craig's films ultimately abandoned the code name theory with the release of Skyfall in 2012.

In Skyfallit has been revealed that James Bond is not the alias or code name of the British superspy. Bond is Craig's James Bond family name. Before joining the British Navy, he was the orphaned son of wealthy and wealthy parents, and was adopted into the Oberhauser family before joining the army. Craig's films awarded James Bond and Ernst Stavro Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) a shared connection in their youth. Bond became an elite MI-6 agent, while Blofeld started a global criminal network, SPECTRE. As a result, it is impossible to reinforce the codename theory in the films starring Craig, since firmly establish that James Bond is his real name.

The James Bond codename theory could be rebooted with the next film

EON Productions obviously intends to make new James Bond movies in the future. Craig's Bond comes to an end, he dies in an explosion in the latest James Bond film, There is no time to diereleased in 2021. It's always possible that EON Productions could try officially canonize the theory by acknowledging the death of James Bond in the next film and after the new actor takes the name of the original as its own. Essentially, Craig's Bond is the original and primary James Bond, and all his successors are named after him as aliases. Craig's Bond is the beginning of a legend that has been carried on by others for generations. This technique is used similarly to Lee Falk'sthe ghost comic strip, establishing The Phantom's moniker as a title passed down from parents to children. In The Princess BrideWestley (Cary Elwes) reveals that he assumed the role of The Dread Pirate Roberts after being trained by his predecessor, who was also the Dread Pirate Roberts, and was not the first man to hold the title. The upcoming 26th James Bond film could use a similar narrative device using the James Bond name as a generationally inherited title.

It is unlikely that the next James Bond film entry will canonize or acknowledge the codename theory one way or another. Officially, James Bond's codename is the callsign 007, which was passed on to Agent Nomi (Lashana Lynch) in There is no time to die after Bond retired. So agent 00 callsigns can be passed, but not necessarily the names. The next movie will probably be about the next James Bond with “James Bond” as his real name. There may be some fun easter eggs or references to previous movies, but the codename theory will likely remain a fan theory and debate for years to come.