BACK COVER STORY

With the 25th James Bond movie, No Time to Die, soon to be released, let’s take a look back at the history of the spectacularly successful film franchise.

The Bond films, based on the spy novels of Ian Fleming, have been in production since 1962 earning a combined gross of $7 billion.

That makes the adventures of British secret agent 007 the fourth biggest franchise of all time behind the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars and the Wizarding world of Harry Potter.

The Bond films are a family fair with Albert “Cubby” Broccoli having produced most of them until being succeeded in 1995 by his daughter Barbara Broccoli who remains at the helm.

Six actors have played 007 and they are Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton and Daniel Craig.

November 2020 release No Time to Die is Daniel Craig’s final appearance in the role but there is no sign of this franchise dying as the winning formula of action, glamor and excitement looks set to continue for many years to come.