The recurring notion that “James Bond” might be a transferable codename is a misguided attempt to tidy up the ending of No Time To Die, and if it comes to fruition, this Bond fan will not be happy. It’s an inelegant solution to a self-inflicted narrative problem, and one that fundamentally undermines the character’s legacy. While double-oh designations (and even the number 007 itself as we saw in No Time To Die with Nomi) are clearly institutional roles that can be reassigned, the name “James Bond” has only been treated as such in the notoriously forgettable, unofficial James Bond movie Casino Royale from 1967, where the spoof spy movie spoofed the absurd notion that the name was a codename and half the cast portrayed “James Bond” in one of many annoyances of the movie.

In short, making “James Bond” into a codename creates more problems than it solves. It invites needless continuity questions and ignores the obvious fact that MI6 would gain nothing by recycling a household name burdened with decades of baggage and compromised cover. James Bond works precisely because he’s a man, not a label, and pretending otherwise would be a huge creative misstep.