Locations We Want to Visit in Bond 26
18 August 2023 09:34
Did you know that James Bond has visited more than 50 countries? From the very beginning his missions have always sent him globe-trotting which has become one of the main tropes of the franchise. Seeing the exotic beauty of Jamaica in Dr. No captured the imaginations of millions of people back in the day. Audiences were thrilled to be exported out of their day-to-day lives and thrown into vibrant destinations they would otherwise never get to see.
James Bond instantly became synonymous with jet-setting travel like no fictional character before him. Buying a ticket to a Bond film therefore came with the expectation that you would be transported to the other side of the globe, getting a glimpse of a completely different culture. Each film would try to work in a new country in the script to give the audience something fresh to discover. Looking back there was arguably little overlap between countries until the Daniel Craig era made Italy its favourite destination.
In this article we will delve into the five most exciting new regions that James Bond has yet to explore, hopefully offering an early glimpse of the adventures that await us in just a few years in Bond 26. Please note that we’re only looking at locations where Bond films have never been set and not where they’ve never been filmed.
Canada
Yes, we know what you’re thinking… While it is true that The Spy Who Loved Me’s iconic opening ski jump was filmed in Canada, it was actually set in the Austrian Alps. So technically speaking James Bond has never set foot in Canada.
The natural beauty of the country lends itself perfectly to a Bond film: the spectacular mountains, national parks, prairie grasslands, arctic tundra… the list goes on and on. These landscapes would all make great destinations for Bond to visit in lieu of the European tourist hotspots that he constantly revisits.
No doubt the Alps have their own charm but it would be nice to see another part of the world for a change. Particularly since Canadian mountain ranges are on a completely different scale, boasting a handful of mountains well over 5,000m at their peak.
It’s also been a long time since we had a glimpse of Bond skiing. It was in The World Is Not Enough back in 1999 that he last hit the slopes. Daniel Craig’s era left snow sports out altogether. The closest we came was in SPECTRE but they opted to go with the plane chase.
It doesn’t all have to be about snow, however. Picture Bond on his way to meet a contact in one of Canada’s cosmopolitan cities. Toronto or Montréal would make for great candidates. They could use the cities’ landmarks as a basis for inventive action sequences like the CN Tower, the Montréal Biosphere or even Niagara Falls.
Australia and New Zealand
Imagine how exciting it would be to have Bond island-hopping across Oceania as his mission takes him from Australia to New Zealand to Fiji, etc. It would be an understatement to say that it’s been long overdue. The region has an incredible amount of untapped potential in terms of landscapes and storytelling possibilities.
Australia is already part of the fabric of James Bond history. George Lazenby was born in the south east of the country near Canberra. Ever since he took on the role in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, fans have been patiently waiting for the character to make his way there. Yet there’s not been so much as a rumour in all that time.
They could go the stereotypical route with Australia and catapult Bond into the barren outback. We could see Bond fight for his life suffering from severe dehydration and/or hunger while being hunted across the bush. Nearer to the coast he could be pitted against crocodiles à la Live And Let Die.
Then there’s the approach of highlighting modern Australia, showcasing its global cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Despite their modernity these cities have kept a lot of their heritage and are unmistakably Australian in terms of architecture and atmosphere. Bond in Australia would certainly be a lot of fun.
New Zealand is another great spot and its relative proximity to Australia would make it hard for the filmmakers not to choose both. But make no mistake New Zealand is very different and would give us a whole new world to explore through Bond’s eyes.
On the North Island there are panoramic bays with the clearest water imaginable. It would be a fantastic opportunity for a boat chase sequence. And it doesn’t get more dramatic than active volcanos which are also present on the north side.
Then there’s the South Island where Bond could find himself on top of a snow-covered mountain or climbing across gigantic glaciers. Beautiful rainforests like the Catlins would make for a rich environment with its dense foliage and waterfalls. Overall New Zealand could offer many filming locations and even double for other parts of the world.
Central/Eastern Africa
This pick is an outlier but the heart of Africa presents Bond with an environment that we’ve never properly seen in the franchise. You might be mistaken for thinking they filmed in Uganda for Casino Royale but did you know that it was actually shot just outside of London? Elsewhere on the continent Bond has travelled to Morocco and Egypt but the desert landscapes of this northern region are a far cry from the dense jungles of central and eastern Africa.
It would be genuinely thrilling to see Bond immerse himself in the culture of countries like Tanzania, Cameroon or Kenya. Bond would be out of his element and the film could even thematically address Britain’s colonial history in the region. This would add an extra layer to the film while also referencing Bond’s origin in the way that Fleming wrote him.
Central and eastern Africa boasts vast, untouched landscapes with wildlife that is entirely unique. Think of the rolling plateau savannahs, the rainforest basins or the rugged highlands to the east. Bond 26 could showcase this diverse terrain with an exciting aerial sequence that ends with him stranded on foot and having to hike his way back to HQ.
The one thing preventing a Bond film to shoot there, or indeed any movie, are the logistical nightmares. It’s not necessarily the fact that the crew would be isolated from much of the world, but rather that the region doesn’t have its own established film industry to cater to their needs on-site. This wouldn’t be an issue for small productions but Bond films are as big as they get.
Ireland
How is it possible that Bond has somehow reached outer space but never quite managed to visit neighbouring Ireland? With its eventful history, lush countryside, and captivating charm, Ireland provides an ideal backdrop for a Bond film.
From the bustling streets of Dublin to the rugged beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way, Bond's mission could take him to ancient castles, hidden coves and some of the steepest cliffs in Europe. It might not be as exotic as Oceania but the density of recognisable landmarks in Ireland is unmatchable. This would make the shoot highly efficient.
Dublin is a unique capital city because it’s sprawled out and doesn’t feature any skyscrapers. This differentiates it from other cities in Europe that lean towards modernity. In fact, Dublin is all about history and you can already imagine the banter between Bond and his Irish counterparts.
In recent years Ireland has developed its own film industry shooting productions in franchises as big as Harry Potter and Star Wars as well as the Vikings TV series. The tax credits given to productions are a big incentive too. This served as motivation for SPECTRE to shoot in Mexico so it wouldn’t be surprising if it works for Ireland as well.
Scandinavia/Nordics
Other than a brief visit to Norway in No Time To Die, Bond has for the most part stayed clear of the Nordic countries for the past 60 years. Sweden, Finland and Denmark (disregarding the Faroe Islands) are all contenders to make their first appearance in Bond 26.
Sweden and Denmark could go hand in hand if Bond travelled to Copenhagen since it’s only one bridge away from Malmö. The bridge itself could be used for a thrilling sequence similar to how the Seven Mile Bridge was used in True Lies. Copenhagen could feature a foot chase that takes Bond to the Nyhavn district. In Stockholm there’s potential for a boat chase through the 14 islands that make up the archipelago.
Finland isn’t the first place you’d think of when it comes to possible Bond locations but it does present ideas that are worth discussing. First let’s clear the obvious: Bond could definitely find himself skiing here (sensing a theme yet?). Lapland is over 100,000km² and reaches extreme temperatures in the winter as the Arctic Circle cuts right through it. Care for a ski chase in the midnight sun?
A little known fact about Finland is that it is investing hundreds of millions into a facility of tunnels deep under the bedrock to dispose of nuclear waste. It will become the first of its kind in the world and it’s easy to re-imagine the facility as a lair, possibly incorporating the nuclear waste into the story. It would be timely as the facility is about to become operational.
So that’s our list: Canada, Australia, New Zealand, central/eastern Africa, Ireland and last but not least the Nordics. Each of them brings their own fresh aesthetic and unique culture that would make a perfect fit for Bond 26. We now want to know what you think of our list. Are there any good candidates we left out or shouldn’t have included? Let us know on our social channels!