007 First Light shared new details about the game’s characters in the second episode of its Beyond the Light developer diary. Learn more about Bond’s allies, mentors, and their roles in the young spy’s journey below.
007 First Light Beyond the Light Episode 2 Spotlights Key Characters
Before He Became 007
007 First Light developer IO Interactive released the second episode of its Beyond the Light developer diary on YouTube on March 5, offering a closer look at the characters surrounding James Bond and the roles they play in shaping the young spy’s origin story.
The developers and cast members sat down to discuss First Light’s interpretation of familiar figures such as Miss Moneypenny, Q, and M, as well as new characters introduced for the game’s original story.
IO Interactive Bond IP creative director Martin Emborg discussed the challenge of telling James Bond's origin story. "Doing an origin story for something like Bond, it's a really interesting challenge, taking the core qualities of the character that people know and love for, obviously, 60-plus years," Emborg said, explaining that the team explored Bond’s journey and experiences that molded him into the agent known as 007. "There’s a character arc that he needs to go through," he added.
Part of that journey includes the allies and colleagues Bond encounters during his early days in MI6. Miss Moneypenny, whose role differs from her traditional portrayal in the books and films, appears as a field analyst in 007 First Light rather than the secretary often seen in previous adaptations. In the game, she communicates with Bond during missions, allowing for more interaction between the two characters. Voice actor Kiera Lester said their relationship in the game reflects an earlier stage in their partnership. "Their dynamic treads this line of cheekiness, but admiration," Lester said, adding that the two are still "figuring each other out."
Emborg also explained how the supporting cast was designed in relation to Bond. "The way that we work with the surrounding cast is that we’ve imbued these surrounding characters with some of those qualities that you know from Bond, so that they can inform the character."
In the case of Q, the MI6 quartermaster responsible for developing and supplying agents with specialized gadgets, Emborg explained that the character’s style and influence even extend to some of Bond’s iconic equipment. In 007 First Light, Q is portrayed as a "very sartorial, very stylish gentleman," which is reflected in elements such as the Q watch being an Omega and the spy car being an Aston Martin—what Emborg described as "a very tangible version of how these characters inform who he is."
Actor Alastair Mackenzie said he grew up watching Q in the James Bond films, particularly the portrayal by Desmond Llewelyn, which he described as having a "cool uncle" quality. Because 007 First Light tells an origin story, Mackenzie described this version of Q as slightly younger and more involved in guiding the inexperienced Bond. "He has to kind of teach Bond how to become an agent effectively," Mackenzie said, adding that Q serves as "the professor and the teacher and the mentor." He also noted that Q often has to keep Bond in check, reminding him that "he has a job to do, and he has to do it properly."
Another key figure introduced in 007 First Light is John Greenway, a new character created for the game who serves as a mentor figure within the 00 program, the elite division of licensed agents tasked with high-risk missions. Emborg said Greenway does not want Bond "anywhere near" the program, thinking that he just "got lucky." This dynamic places Bond in the position of having to prove himself within MI6, creating tension between the two characters as the young agent works to earn his place in the program.
The video also provided new details about the game’s interpretation of M, the head of MI6 and Bond’s superior within the agency. In 007 First Light, the character is portrayed as younger than many previous versions and initially underestimated by those around her. Despite this, Emborg said she possesses an "easy authority" and strong ambition. Unlike Greenway, who doubts Bond’s place in the program, M believes the young agent has potential and sees something in him that MI6 has been missing.
Designing the Cast
Lead character artist Beatrice Hart also discussed the process behind designing the game’s cast. According to Hart, development begins with character bios provided by the narrative team, outlining details such as a character’s background, personality, and ambitions. From there, artists gather visual references and begin sketching early concepts, gradually refining them into more detailed designs.
Hart noted that the team also develops multiple wardrobe options for characters to reflect different situations in the story, while ensuring that each member of the cast either complements or contrasts with others in meaningful ways.
To bring actors into the game, the team captures performers in "full likeness," scanning their faces, bodies, and other features using a specialized studio setup with multiple cameras. These scans are then reconstructed into the game’s character models and used as references for animators when creating facial expressions. Hart explained that the team spends a significant amount of time studying how actors move and react in order to accurately capture their performances in the game.
Hart cited actor Lennie James, who portrays Greenway, as one example of this process. She described his face as "super expressive," noting that translating those expressions into the final character model required careful decisions about which details should be part of the base model and which should instead be conveyed through animation.
Hart also highlighted the design approach for the game’s villain, Bawma. The team aimed to give the character a strong presence through bold visual elements, including a striking yellow suit meant to evoke the warning colors of poisonous animals—something that signals danger while allowing the character to stand out in any setting.
Emborg also reflected on the importance of casting during development. "Once you find the actor or actress that will portray and breathe life into this character, there's a re-calibration," he said, adding that "the instincts of great actors, I mean, it's priceless." He later expressed confidence in the project’s overall quality, noting that "we're operating at quite a high level on this project and, yeah, I think we've made something quite special."
007 First Light is an upcoming action-adventure game developed by IO Interactive. The story follows a younger James Bond as he enters the world of espionage and encounters the allies and mentors who influence his path toward becoming a 00 agent.
007 First Light launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 on May 27, 2026. To stay up to date on the game, check our article below.
Source:
Beyond the Light Episode 2 - Cast & Character Dev Diary
