tech
'The enormity of the idea helped me': how Patrick Gibson became gaming’s new James Bond
As Hollywood searches for its next iteration of the superspy, the actor explains how he earned pop culture’s most sought-after role – and how he’s taking 007 back to basics
TL;DR
- Patrick Gibson stars as James Bond in the video game '007 First Light', which has sold 2.7 million copies.
- Gibson lent both his voice and likeness to the character, leading to a case being made for him as an official Bond.
- He leaned into the pressure of the audition, finding that the 'impossible' dream helped him commit.
- Gibson focused on the character's fundamental 'DNA' rather than imitating previous Bonds, influenced by his role as young Dexter Morgan.
- The game's narrative director, Martin Emborg, stressed the importance of taking the character seriously to avoid tropes.
- Gibson described the acting process for the game as technically demanding, involving head-mounted cameras and morph suits.
- He approached the role with a sense of ownership, ignoring the established canon to embrace a reimagined character.
- The game is presented as a distinct 'interactive Bond' experience, separate from literary and cinematic versions.