James Bond's Producers Made A Different No Time To Die In 1958
James Bond returns in No Time To Die, and while the title isn't inspired by an Ian Fleming novel, it does have a long history with 007's producers.
In a strange quirk of fate, the title of James Bond's next movie, No Time To Die, has deep-rooted connections in 007 history. Almost 6 years have passed since Spectre, during which time James Bond has been both shaken and stirred, as Bond 25 endured a particularly bumpy road through production. Initial uncertainty over Daniel Craig's status (largely caused by comments from the actor himself and Spectre's conclusive ending) was eventually cleared up, only for original director, Danny Boyle, to quit citing creative differences, but like a dastardly Blofeld scheme, the worst was still come. Daniel Craig required surgery after an on-set incident, a crew member was left with minor injuries following an explosion, and just when No Time To Die looked set to finally premiere, along came COVID-19.
Somewhere in the midst of that chaotic creation, Bond 25 was officially christened No Time To Die. A fresh addition to franchise canon, No Time To Die's title is inspired by the style and tone of Ian Fleming's novels, but has no concrete background in the author's original books. With rumors suggesting Daniel Craig's grumpy protagonist will meet his maker on this final mission, the full significance of No Time To Die's title will only be revealed when the film releases.
Despite an outward separation from James Bond history, No Time To Die actually shares a deeper correlation with 007 than you might assume. In 1958, a British war movie under the title "No Time To Die" released, based on a Ronald Kemp novel of the same name. For U.S. audiences, the effort was rebranded to the far more upbeat Tank Force, further burying the original "No Time To Die" in cinematic history. Premiering 4 years before James Bond made his movie debut in Dr. No, "No Time To Die" shares numerous links to the iconic spy franchise. The 1958 POW movie was produced by Albert Broccoli - the man responsible for bringing Fleming's 007 into live-action alongside Harry Saltzman. Broccoli continued to oversee the James Bond franchise before passing responsibility down to his children, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who still mastermind the franchise today.
"No Time To Die" also shares a director with 007. Broccoli hired Terence Young to sit behind the camera in 1958, and turned to him again after acquiring the James Bond movie rights, with Young featuring on Dr. No, From Russia With Love, and Thunderball. In the writing department, "No Time To Die" with written by Terence Young and Richard Maibaum, who has ties of his own to Bond. Maibaum is credited as screenwriter on a total of 13 James Bond movies, ranging from Dr. No all the way through to Timothy Dalton's The Living Daylights.
"No Time To Die" wasn't Terence Young's first gig working with Albert Broccoli - the pair also teamed up for 1953's The Red Beret, 1956's Safari, and Zarak in 1957, with Maibaum also involved in The Red Beret and Zarak - but it's still strange that a pre-Bond film featuring three founding pillars of the series would share exactly the same title as a 007 adventure releasing in 2021. It's difficult to say whether or not the 1958 "No Time To Die" had any impact upon Bond 25's eventual title. Certainly, you'd imagine Broccoli and Wilson would be aware of the connection, and maybe the temptation to name a James Bond release after one of their father's old movies simply proved too tempting a tribute to resist.
No Time To Die's connection to Broccoli, Young and Maibaum only enhances the title's meaning. The upcoming Bond movie is already a coming together of old and new, with James desperately trying to enjoy retirement, and Nomi representing a new era for the double-0 program. Meanwhile in real life, No Time To Die gives a respectful nod to three names who made the franchise what it is today, while taking 007 boldly into an unknown future.