Summary
James Bond 26has to take a radically different approach toward the character in order to stay fresh, and taking place in the 1960s could be the stylistic switch-up that the franchise needs. After the explosiveending ofNo Time To Die,theJames Bondseries has found itself in somewhat of a no-man’s-land. With the cinematic version of Bond dead, there’s no easy way to carry this franchise into the future. Therefore, one of the most effective ways of keeping Ian Fleming’s classic spy alive could actually be tobring him back into the past.
Not only would a Bond movie in the ‘60s avoid any unnecessary complications following the character’s death, but it would also be the perfect opportunity to introduce some aspects from the original novels that haven’t been present in the movies. While Daniel Craig’s movies were mostly very strong adaptations, the decision to bring the spy into the present day meant that certain time-specific features of the books had to be dropped. With fewdetails aboutBond 26released, there’s still time for a bold subversion of the classic style.
James Bond 26 Can’t Repeat The Craig Era’s Copycat Trick Despite A New $1 Billion Blueprint
The next entry in the James Bond franchise needs to avoid using the same kind of copycat trick that Casino Royale utilized almost two decades ago.
A 1960s-Set James Bond Movie Could Finally Adapt Blades Club From Ian Fleming’s Books
Blades Club Has A Long-Standing History In The Novels
IfBond 26does decide to bring the character back to the ‘60s,it would finally be possible for the movies to do a more accurate adaptation of Ian Fleming’s books. The movie could ditch the futuristic tech of the Craig movies for a more grounded, human-focused story like the ones Fleming wrote. One aspect of his novels that was notably absent from the Craig movies was Blades Club, the fictional gentlemen’s club that first appeared inMoonrakerand subsequently became a staple of the Bond novels.
Blades Club is often used as a meeting place for Bond and M, the head of the Secret Intelligence Service. Though Bond isn’t technically a member of the club, the location appears several times when the espionage agent needs a neutral location to escape safely. The location didn’t play a large role in the Daniel Craig movies, most likely becauseit would have felt outdated in a modern environment. However, if Bond were brought back to the ‘60s, it would fit in perfectly.
Die Another Day (Sort Of) Introduced Blades
The Movie Re-Imagined Blades Club For A Modern Setting
The only time that Blade Club has actually been seen on-screen in theJames Bondmovies was inDie Another Day, but even that was little more than a cameo. In that movie, Blades Club is the name of a fencing association owned by Gustav Graves - although it has the same name, the location isn’t the same at all. It’s a nice Easter egg for audiences familiar with the Fleming books, but the narrative changes mean thatan accurate portrayal of Blades Club is still missing from the movies.
TakingJames Bondback to its roots […] is the only way to truly make Blades Club work as a concept.
IfBond 26was going to introduce Blades Club, it wouldn’t make sense to change the meaning likeDie Another Daydid. This Easter egg has already been done, and teasing the audience with this reference again might not play well with long-time fans of the franchise. Taking James Bond back to its roots, both thematically and temporally, is the only way to truly make Blades Club work as a concept - and it would separate this movie from those that came before it, establishing a new fictional universe.
Is James Bond’s Blades Club Based On A Real-Life Place?
There’s Evidence To Suggest That Blades Club Isn’t Entirely Fictional
Although Blades Club is a fictional location, there’s evidence to suggest that it was actually based on Fleming’s own experiences with gentlemen’s clubs in London. The author was said to be a member of three different clubs, and whileBlades is likely a manifestation of his experience with all three, he’s named one specific location as the primary inspiration. According to the websiteFleming’s Bond, the author used Boodle’s Club on St. James Street in London to help create an image of Blades Club, and the two locations had many characteristics in common.
Ian Fleming wrote 12 James Bond novels and two collections of short stories
But interestingly, Boodles itself is also mentioned inMoonraker- while Bond is watching Hugo Drax lunching at Blades, the spy is actually seated in his car outside Boodle’s. The fact that Fleming goes out of his way to mention the real-life Boodles club suggests that it was important to him, adding credence to the ongoing theory that it was the main inspiration for Blades.IfBond 26goes back to the ‘60s, the club’s inclusion would be a fitting way to pay homage to the author who started this whole franchise.
