The Hitman development team made changes to certain characters while respecting the franchise’s limitations.
When IO Interactive announced in 2020 that it would be adapting a James Bond story, it seemed like fate was at work. The Danish studio has now provided a new, detailed look at the game, focusing on its version of Bond and classic 007 characters. In the latest episode of the studio’s Beyond the Light series, which showcases the game’s behind-the-scenes elements, we learned more about how IO Interactive approached the origin story of one of the most iconic literary and cinematic characters. Through conversations with members of the development team and the game’s cast, we gained insight into this process. Martin Emborg, the director of narrative and cutscenes, explains that this approach is partly related to the characters surrounding Bond.
“Doing an origin story for something like Bond is a really interesting challenge. Obviously, people have known and loved the character’s core qualities for over 60 years. But then, how did he get there? How did he become this suave guy who knows everything? What’s his journey? Hopefully, his journey and his backstory will surprise and intrigue people so that he doesn’t just step through the door and say, ‘Well, let’s get started.’ There’s a journey; there’s a character arc he needs to go through,” says Emborg.
Emborg discusses in detail one element of the game: how much more talkative IO Interactive‘s Bond is. According to Emborg, this is partly because the story takes place in a game. Players accompany Bond throughout the game, and it is common for the main character in games to comment on everything that happens as players progress through the levels. However, the developers emphasize that this stems from the fact that Bond is a young, up-and-coming talent in 007: First Light. IO has also made other character changes. For example, Moneypenny is much more involved in the action as a field analyst than as someone working in the background while Bond carries out his espionage adventures.
“What is very different from the books and movies is that in our version, Moneypenny is a field analyst, so she’s going to be in his earpiece. You get a lot more time with her and a lot more conversation between her and Bond. Traditionally, Bond is a man of few words. In our version, he speaks much more, partly because he’s young and partly because of the medium. We’re not cutting to the next set piece. You’re with him. You’re entering the building with him and becoming part of the back-and-forth, the conversation, and the different perspectives. It’s sometimes quite fun. I mean, it’s always more fun to jump out of a window when you’re told not to,” Emborg added.
Emborg explained that the other characters around Bond, such as Q and Greene, are experienced MI6 agents who have risen through the ranks. He also discussed how Bond adopts qualities from these characters that ultimately define him as the James Bond we know and love. It’s interesting to hear how IO approached this story. Not only is Bond an iconic figure, but this is also the first time IO has told a story like this. The studio has told spy stories before but never as part of such a large license and franchise. This behind-the-scenes look reveals the respect and understanding that will surely convince longtime Bond fans that 007 First Light, launching on May 27, will be an excellent Bond story for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.
Source: WCCFTech
