James Bond: The Franchise That Defies Continuity
In a cinematic world where every major franchise meticulously weaves its narratives into a single, interconnected universe, James Bond remains a glorious anomaly. For decades, 007 has played fast and loose with continuity, reinventing himself with every new actor while still feeling unmistakably Bond.
After all, what really matters in a Bond film? An MI6 agent with a license to kill, a well-shaken martini, a suave tuxedo, high-tech gadgets, a seductive love interest, and a perfectly timed one-liner. Everything else? Well, that’s where things get murky.
Does Bond Have a Definitive Timeline?
If we attempted to untangle the timeline of Bond films, things would get complicated—fast. Technically, the saga begins with 2006’s Casino Royale and ends (for now) with 2002’s Die Another Day. Confused? You should be.
The Daniel Craig era is the most serialized version of Bond yet. His five-film arc—from Casino Royale to No Time to Die—was built as a self-contained story, with recurring themes and long-running consequences (like Vesper Lynd’s tragic impact on 007). But that tight continuity makes it even harder to connect his Bond to the ones who came before him.
Judi Dench: The Continuity Conundrum
A major wrinkle in the timeline comes from Judi Dench, who played M in both the Brosnan and Craig eras. Since Craig’s Casino Royale depicts Bond earning his 00 status, this suggests Brosnan’s films (GoldenEye, Tomorrow Never Dies, The World Is Not Enough, and Die Another Day) actually come after Spectre. But then No Time to Die outright kills Bond, which derails any attempt at a cohesive timeline.
The Classic Era: A Loosely Connected Bond?
Even in the early days, Bond’s continuity was inconsistent but somewhat connected. Sean Connery’s From Russia with Love referenced Dr. No, and Goldfinger nodded to the events of the first film. George Lazenby’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service kept the thread going by mentioning Bond’s long pursuit of Blofeld, despite a new actor playing the role.
Roger Moore’s The Spy Who Loved Me referenced Bond’s deceased wife, a thread that carried into For Your Eyes Only and Timothy Dalton’s Licence to Kill, where Felix Leiter confirmed that Bond had once been married.
With Bernard Lee and Robert Brown both serving as M, Lois Maxwell portraying Moneypenny through the Connery, Lazenby, and Moore eras, and Desmond Llewelyn’s legendary run as Q spanning decades, there was enough overlap to suggest a single continuity—at least up until Licence to Kill in 1989.
Where Does That Leave Us?
Once Brosnan entered the picture, the timeline became even shakier. Llewelyn continued playing Q during Brosnan’s tenure, yet Craig’s version of the character—Ben Whishaw’s Q—seems far too young to have worked under Dench’s M before magically aging into Llewelyn’s version.
So what’s the best way to approach the Bond timeline? The simplest solution is to treat the series as two distinct entities:
- The “Classic Bond” Era (1962–2002): Dr. No to Die Another Day, loosely connected but flexible.
- The “Craig Bond” Era (2006–2021): A rebooted, self-contained arc that exists in its own world.
Trying to link all the films into one cohesive story will only lead to narrative whiplash. Ultimately, James Bond doesn’t need a perfect timeline—it just needs a martini, a mission, and an impeccable sense of style.
The Man Who Worked with Every Bond
One actor holds a record that no other in the James Bond franchise can claim—he shared the screen with Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan.
That man? Desmond Llewelyn, the beloved Q.
Introduced in From Russia with Love (1963), Llewelyn went on to appear in 17 Bond films over 36 years, missing only Live and Let Die (1973). His presence was the closest thing Bond had to a consistent thread through the decades, making him a true legend of the franchise.
So while Bond himself may change faces, Q—much like the franchise—was always there, ready with a new gadget and a warning: “Pay attention, 007.”
