Speculation is mounting that Irish actor Patrick Gibson has been cast as the "next James Bond" following Wednesday's reveal of IO Interactive's upcoming game 007 First Light.
The first trailer for the highly anticipated game debuted during Sony's State of Play, showcasing a 26-year-old version of the iconic spy.
Within minutes of the trailer's release, fans across social media platforms began identifying striking similarities between the game's young Bond and the 30-year-old Dexter: Original Sin star, speculating he'll be the voice actor.
"I clocked it THE SECOND I saw the dirty smirk of his," wrote one 007 enthusiast on Reddit, whilst another commented: "Watching the trailer and knew the face looked familiar. After about a minute or so I screamed 'DEXTER.'"
Many are adamant the game confirms who the next Bond will be
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The game, described as a "third-person action-adventure" by IO Interactive, presents Bond as "a young, resourceful, and sometimes reckless new recruit" who joined MI6 after "a grand tour of every major boarding school in Britain."
M characterises him as "a bullet without a target" in the trailer.
IO Interactive CEO Hakan Abrak explained that players will "experience James Bond as a young air crewman in the royal navy, before the tuxedos and the martinis, as he first steps into the world of espionage striving to earn his 00 status."
IO Interactive has yet to confirm the casting, yet someone has even updated Gibson's Wikipedia page to reflect the speculation, according to Radio Times.
James Bond fans think Patrick Gibson will be the next 007
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Gibson's acting credentials include prominent roles in Shadow and Bone, The Tudors, and The OA, although he's best known for portraying a younger version of Dexter Morgan in the prequel series Dexter: Original Sin.
The Irish actor, who has no previous video game voice acting experience, appears to share physical similarities with the game's protagonist, including what PC Gamer describes as a "smirky" demeanour.
The game's contemporary setting has raised eyebrows amongst some observers.
PC Gamer noted that this modern-day Bond would have been "born in the year 2000," adding that the character has "an unfortunate case of iPhone face" and looks like someone who "vapes or has opinions about Ethereum."
The game is scheduled for release in 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
It marks the first instalment in what IO Interactive hopes will become a trilogy, developed in collaboration with Amazon MGM Studios.
More details about 007 First Light are expected at the IOI Showcase on Friday 7th June at 2am BST, where the developer may finally confirm the game's cast.
The showcase promises to reveal gameplay footage, following yesterday's trailer which primarily featured cutscenes with brief glimpses of shooting and melee combat.
James Bond fans think the animated character bares a resemblance to actor Patrick Gibson
IO INTERACTIVE
Ongoing speculation has been rife over who will take on the role as the next 007, with Theo James emerging as the latest frontrunner to replace Daniel Craig.
Bookmakers BetMGM have placed him as the 6/4 favourite to take on the iconic role.
The 40-year-old White Lotus star has seen his odds soar, putting him ahead of other contenders for the coveted 007 position.
The actor, who also appeared in The Gentlemen, has captured the attention of both fans and bookmakers as speculation continues about who will step into the role following Daniel Craig's final appearance in 2021's No Time to Die.
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