With speculation growing around a new series of James Bond films – and a new actor set to replace Daniel Craig – the question remains: which of the books are left to be adapted?
Ian Fleming wrote a total of 14 James Bond books throughout his career, all of which have been used as source material for the big screen. Since Fleming’s death in 1964, several authors have taken on the task of writing their own 007 stories. For example, Anthony Horowitz wrote three Bond stories, the most recent of which was released in 2022.
The films have always borrowed aspects of the original stories while also introducing original material, meaning they don’t necessarily need to draw directly from modern books. However, these newer novels contain compelling plots that could translate well to the big screen.
How Could the Horowitz Bond Stories be Adapted
Many fans argue that the Bond films that are based on the original stories are the best ones. The first ever book was Casino Royale, which wasn’t made into a film until 2006. This was one of the most well-received films, and it’s easy to see why. Casino games are extremely popular, where many people enjoy playing card games like live poker at Paddy Power, or Baccarat – Bond’s favourite game.
In this regard, it could make sense to use a book that hasn’t yet been adapted to base their next film on. Horowitz made a total of three Bond books: Trigger Mortis (2015), Forever and a Day (2018), and With a Mind to Kill (2022).
Trigger Mortis is set immediately after the events of Goldfinger (one of Fleming’s classic novels), around the Cold War era. This would likely be adapted for a modern setting, just as Casino Royale was, but it could make a compelling film due to its high stakes, and a compelling, well-written ‘Bond girl’.
Forever and a Day is set directly before Casino Royale and explores how Bond got his 007 status. This could be a very interesting angle to explore as a film if they wanted to go down a prequel route and start making films in a more classic era.
With a Mind to Kill is another Cold War action thriller, set directly after the events of the Man with the Golden Gun. This starts with a brainwashed Bond who tries to assassinate M, which could make for an intense opening to the film.
Other Bond Stories They Could Use
Outside of the Horowitz stories, there are other books that haven’t yet been turned into films. For example, there are a few short stories Fleming wrote that weren’t fully adapted, such as The Hildebrand Rarity, 007 in New York, and the Property of a Lady.
They could also go down the angle of picking books by other authors who have attempted to write Bond stories, such as Solo by William Boyd, or Double or Nothing by Kim Sherwood.