Summary

• Other characters have assumed the 007 role in James Bond films and books, with Bond being the most famous to use the codename.
• Nomi, played by Lashana Lynch in No Time To Die, serves as James Bond's successor to the 007 designation.
• Bond's predecessor, although never seen on-screen, is explored in the books, like Anthony Horwitz's 2018 novel Forever and a Day.

The every James Bond movies, the implication has always been that others have been 007 before him and others will be 007 after him.

In fact, films and books have actually seen several other characters assume the 007 role, albeit typically in service to stories focusing on James Bond and his growth. While novels and unproduced films briefly focus on the people who used the codename before him, films like the 1967 Casino Royale and 2021's No Time to Die introduced other characters who could use the 007 moniker to their advantage while in the field. Here's every agent in the James Bond franchise to have been given the codename 007, and what happened to them during their adventures.

5 James Bond

The Most Famous Spy In Cinematic History

One of the most iconic cinematic heroes of the 20th and 21st centuries, James Bond is the character most identified with the 007 codename. The character, who debuted in Ian Fleming's spy novels, has appeared in two dozen official films and countless other media tie-ins. At the time of this writing, seven actors have officially played Bond on-screen in the twenty-five EON produced films, as well as the 1967 parody version of Casino Royal: Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig.

Each performer brought their edges to the classic spy archetype, tweaking the character to fit with the changing times and different plotlines while retaining the core characteristics of James Bond. While the previous films were loosely connected by plot threads like the death of Tracy Bond, Daniel Craig's era of the franchise served as something of a soft reboot. The film explored a modern take on his origin story in 2006's adaptation of Casino Royale, which led to newly remixed versions of classic characters like Felix Leiter, Moneypenny, Q, and Blofeld appearing in the films.

Although it's established in-universe that other agents have been designated 007 (and confirmed in No Time to Die that others will take on that role when Bond leaves the field once and for all), James is easily the most famous person to use the codename. By the time of No time to Die, the entirety of Spectre's leadership has proven willing to out of hiding to witness his planned assassination. This plays into his success as a field agent, and helps establish him in-universe as a legendary hero who has saved the world severel times.

4 Nomi

Bond's Replacement Earned The 007 Status

Played by Lashana Lynch in No Time To Die, Nomi was introduced as James Bond's successor to the 007 designation. In the years after James Bond retired from MI:6, Nomi rose in the ranks and earned 00 status. When introduced to Craig's Bond, she reveals that she's been in the position for two years by that point. A skilled field agent who proved more than capable at subterfuge and combat alike, Nomi served as a modern contrast to an older Bond.

The two initially bristled against each other, with Nomi warning Bond to stay away from her mission. However, by the film's climax, Bond and Nomi had reached a place of understanding. Nomi even allowed Bond to retake the 007 destination for their final mission together, which ended in Bond's death. The implication of the ending is that Nomi would carry on the 007 moniker after his death, carrying on the mission to protect the world.

If the James Bond series were to continue forward from the ending of No Time To Die rather than reboot the series and bring back James, Nomi would be an ideal candidate to continue in the 007 role. However, there's been heavy speculation over who could become the next actor to play James Bond, suggesting that the twenty-sixth entry in the series will bring a new actor into the role of James. This could cutting Nomi's future 007 adventures short prematurely.

3 Bond's Predecessor

A Casino Royale Prequel Explored The Fallout Of Bond's Predecessor Being Killed

Although Bond's predecessor in the 007 role has never been formally seen in action on the big screen, a version of that character has appeared in the James Bond books. Anthony Horwitz's 2018 novel Forever and a Day serves as a direct prequel to Casino Royal and delves into James' earliest assignments as a member of MI:6. The novel opens with the death of the otherwise unidentified 007, whose cover identity was Richard Blakeney.

After his body is found full of bullets near the Southern French city of Marseille, MI:6 sends the newly minted agent Bond to continue his investigation and look into his demise. Bond is promoted to the 00 rank for the mission, and is revealed to have actually chosen the 007 moniker himself. Although initially offered the role of 009, Bond decided to instead to assume the 007 mantle in part to honor the agent, who'd been a close friends with James.

"Richard" is an interesting concept that could flesh out Bond's history. The previous 007's close friendship with Bond could also been seen as the kind of personal tragedy that could harden Bond into a harsher form, similar to the way Vesper's death in Casino Royale helped transform him into the harsher agent that he needed to be. "Richard" could also be used to flesh out Bond's backstory, something recent films in the series have been interested in. Although he's never been on-screen, this unnamed former 007 could be a good inspiration for a future film.

2 Bart Trevor

Timothy Dalton's First James Bond Movie Was Almost A Prequel With The Former 007

James Bond's predecessor almost made it to the screens years before Forever and a Day was published, however, and in a much different form. Timothy Dalton only played Bond in The Living Daylights and License to Kill before leaving the franchise. However, Timothy Dalton's Bond had multiple unmade proposed films, including a prequel. An early version of the fifteenth James Bond film (which later became The Living Daylights) served as an origin movie for James Bond that pit him against the South Asian warlord known as Kwang.

The film would have featured Dalton's Bond learning the ropes from the experienced agent Bart Trevor (who was known as Burton Trevor in earlier drafts of the script). Trevor would have been the 007 agent for much of the film, effectively teaching Bond everything he knows while in the field. The film's bit emotional turn would have seen Trevor dying in the line of duty, leaving the position open for his protégé at the conclusion of the film.

Although scripts for the film were written, longtime franchise producer Albert R. Broccoli feared that audiences wouldn't like seeing an inexperienced Bond, and the project was scrapped. When the idea for a prequel was dropped, Trevor lost his chance to make it to the big screen. However, Broccoli's concerns about a prequel were later disproven when the critically and commerically succesful Casino Royale explored the early days of James Bond's career. However, an earlier adaptation of Casino Royale featured severel other 007 agents.

1 "James Bond"

The Comedic Casino Royale Had A Lot Of Characters With 007 Status

1967's Casino Royale was a parody of the tropes from James Bond films. The film stars David Niven as a retired James Bond, forced to take command of MI:6 as M to combat SMERSH. Although another unseen agent briefly had the moniker of "James Bond" and the 007 status, he's revealed to have abandoned his life as a spy for a career in television. This sets up one of the underlying elements of the film, where Bond orders all the other agents to be reclassified as 007 and referred to as "James Bond" to throw off SMERSH's assassination attempts.

As a result, there are technically seven other 007 agents who appear in the film besides Bond himself. Peter Sellers' Evelyn Tremble is a skilled baccarat player who is recruited to go up against Le Chiffre in a high-stakes game of cards. He's accompanied by Ursula Andress' Vesper Lynd, another 007 and a more villainous version of the character Eva Green played in the 2006 Casino Royale. The daughter of Moneypenny, played by Barbara Bouchet, also appears in as another 007 and is crucial to the recruitment of Terence Cooper's Cooper, a martial arts expert and fellow 007.

Bond's family are also promoted, with his estranged daughter Mata Bond and his nephew Jimmy Bond (played by Joanna Pettet and Woody Allen respectively) elevated to 007 status. However, Jimmy proves to be the film's ultimate villain, and is brought down by the last of the Bonds, an unnamed agent known as the Detainer. Played by Daliah Lavi, the Detainer ends up being a fusion of the Bond Girl archetype and Bond, getting captured in a skimpy outfit but tricking Jimmy at a crucial junction. The parody of James Bond ended up featuring more 007's than any other film.