A recent interview with Amazon MGM Studios boss Mike Hopkins brought the word “relevant” into the James Bond conversation, and I’m not convinced it’s the right guiding principle for Bond 26. There are two very different kinds of relevance Bond could chase. The first, which I don’t think the franchise needs, is trying to make 007 a reflection of the current world by chasing geopolitical trends, pop culture debates, or the latest in technology. Bond doesn’t need to keep up with the Joneses and force combatting oligarchy or artificial intelligence down our throats.

The better kind of relevance is creating a story so exciting and memorable that James Bond naturally becomes the defining action icon of the moment. That’s obviously easier said than done, but it starts with a strong standalone adventure that lives up to the definition of the James Bond character. Whether it’s a modern mission or a period piece, the goal should be simple: make 007 the gold standard again.