When the spectacular new Story Trailer for 007 First Light was released, one question immediately stood out: could the trailer already reveal the rough chronological path of Bond’s journey?
Rather than dissecting the footage in the order presented by the trailer, I decided to attempt something different: arranging the scenes into what might represent a possible chronological sequence within the story itself.
Trailers rarely follow the exact narrative order, of course. But many of the scenes here feel like fragments of a coherent timeline. By piecing those fragments together, we may be able to sketch an early outline of Bond’s journey.
The Iceland Incident — The Prologue
At last, the mystery has been solved: Iceland is indeed the prologue of the game.
To my surprise, it does not appear to be merely a cinematic introduction leading into the opening titles. Instead, it looks like a fully playable level where Bond already finds himself in serious trouble.
One scene shows the action over the shoulder of a helicopter soldier. On his right shoulder is an unfamiliar insignia: a crowned crest containing a white dove. The soldier watches as another helicopter is suddenly fired upon.
What stands out is that the two helicopters seem to have been flying almost parallel beforehand. This raises an intriguing possibility: perhaps they initially appeared to be allied forces — only for one helicopter to reveal itself as belonging to a hostile faction and suddenly open fire.
In the next shot we see at least ten soldiers preparing for combat, several of whom wear the British flag on their left shoulder. This could very well be Bond’s unit at the moment their mission goes catastrophically wrong — possibly just before the crash in Iceland that leaves Bond with the deep wound on his right cheek.
From the available footage, it seems plausible that three different parties are involved in Iceland:
- A local faction already present at the site — perhaps operating the massive dome-shaped research facility visible in the trailer.
- An attacking hostile faction that has possibly seized control of the installation.
- Bond’s unit, which appears to have stumbled into the situation and is ultimately overwhelmed.
One scene supports this interpretation: Bond helps a person in an orange jumpsuit climb up a ledge. This does not look like an enemy soldier but rather a technician, scientist, or another VIP connected to the facility.
Other clips from the Iceland sequence show an intense hand-to-hand fight with a soldier whose affiliation remains unclear, as well as a spectacular moment in which Bond leaps from a quad bike amid an explosion.
Another important detail: during the Iceland scenes Bond still has the short military haircut and holds the rank of Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, serving as an Aircrewman. He is therefore not the Royal Navy Commander of the reserve familiar from traditional Bond lore.
Iceland feels like the perfect pre-title sequence — the kind of opening set piece that in many Bond films takes place just before the main title sequence and theme song begin. Even though such openings are not always directly tied to the central plot, it is easy to imagine Bond already being on the trail of something larger. That mysterious dome facility certainly resembles the kind of location that could hide a villain’s operation — and perhaps MI6 will eventually lead us back there later in the story.
Malta — Training and Recovery
Several scenes appear to follow directly after the events in Iceland. After the disastrous mission, Bond is sent to an MI6 training camp in Malta, though the trailer suggests that he may not initially understand why he has been brought there.
He arrives six months later than the other recruits, which could explain why he appears slightly out of breath during some of the training exercises. The footage nevertheless suggests that the candidates function well as a team — they talk and interact casually with one another — even though we already know from the Slovakia mission that tensions and rivalries exist within the group.
Interestingly, the trailer repeatedly shows seven recruits training together. If Bond eventually emerges from this group as the successful candidate, he would effectively become the last one standing — stepping forward as 007. With 009 already having gone rogue earlier in the story, MI6 may be avoiding assembling a full group of nine or more recruits again, almost treating the number as something of a bad omen within the program — not unlike how some cultures avoid 13.
Bond’s appearance during the Malta sequences also tells its own story. His hair is still short, while the wound on his cheek has healed but remains clearly visible in close-ups. The developers seem to portray what would medically resemble the proliferation phase of scar healing, which typically begins around two weeks after the injury. In scenes such as the one set in Q’s laboratory, the scar appears particularly pronounced, whereas later key art and promotional images show it gradually fading.
This is also where we get a delightful glimpse of Bond’s early interaction with Q. In one brief moment, Bond casually peers through Q’s microscope and fiddles with his equipment while Q watches with visible irritation — a small but perfect homage to the classic Bond–Q dynamic familiar from the film series.
The Suppressor and the Covered Car
Another scene that likely takes place around this time shows Bond attaching a suppressor to his pistol.
This is not the first time we have seen the suppressor — its silhouette was already visible during the fireworks scene in the reveal trailer. Here, however, Bond seems to have more time.
We see him retrieve the suppressor from a weapons case labeled “State Property,” likely testing it out for the first time during his visit to Q.
In the background several desks are visible, along with a podium displaying a covered car. The sharp rear angles beneath the cloth — rising only slightly before flattening out — once again resemble the silhouette of the Aston Martin Valhalla.
We already speculated after the Reveal Trailer that the covered vehicle in Q’s laboratory might be the Valhalla. Since the car has meanwhile been confirmed as Bond’s vehicle in 007 First Light, this new shot appears to show the same car again — this time viewed from the rear rather than the earlier angle.
If so, this scene likely takes place inside Q’s workspace rather than Bond’s personal hideout. The only detail that does not fully align with the Malta timeline is Bond’s noticeably longer hair in this moment. If the scene does not occur late during the Malta training period, the equipment — including the covered car — may have been relocated elsewhere, suggesting that this moment actually takes place later in the story, possibly when Bond receives his Q-issued pistol and suppressor as part of joining the 00 program.
The Return of the Aston Martin DBS
Cars connect us directly to the next scene.
Bond speeds through what appears to be a Mediterranean harbor city in a familiar vehicle: the Aston Martin DBS from the Craig era.
Introduced in Casino Royale (2007), the DBS famously saved Bond’s life — while nearly costing Vesper hers — and later returned in the brutal opening chase of Quantum of Solace.
The warm sandstone architecture and the sea visible in the background suggest that Bond may still be in Malta, though another Mediterranean city cannot be ruled out.
In any case, the trailer makes one thing clear: the DBS is not treated gently.
M’s Offer — A Job with a Short Life Expectancy
The scene where Bond sits down with M likely takes place not long after the Malta training sequences.
M explicitly references the training program, suggesting that this conversation occurs soon afterward. Bond’s hair has grown longer and his scar has begun to fade — changes that might realistically occur after roughly two months.
It is also worth paying attention to Bond’s outfit in this moment. He is dressed in a more casual look, which contrasts with a later meeting in M’s office, where he appears in a black coat and noticeably more formal attire. This difference may indicate that the conversation shown here takes place earlier in the timeline.
It seems plausible that M first seeks Bond’s commitment to joining the 00 program before revealing the threat posed by 009 and the wider conspiracy.
After Bond agrees, the scene from the reveal trailer where M says she wants “all pieces on the board” may follow.
The Slovakia Mission — The Grand Carpathian Fight
Bond’s first official mission as a 00 candidate takes him to Slovakia and the Grand Carpathian chess tournament.
While searching for 009, Bond discovers something unusual — possibly even a clue pointing toward the larger conspiracy.
During this investigation he encounters the blond bellhop, who ultimately reveals himself as an assassin or henchman.
The trailer shows a brutal fight in a wine cellar, where Bond smashes the bellhop into a display cabinet. Eventually Bond is cornered and must grab a ceremonial sword from a heraldic crest behind him — exactly the moment glimpsed in the reveal trailer.
Interestingly, the character renders of John Greenway shown in the Beyond the Light Episode 2 dev diary depict him wearing an arm brace, suggesting that Greenway may have been injured during the events in Slovakia.
This raises an intriguing question: was he directly involved in the confrontation — or did the MI6 team’s cover collapse, pulling multiple operatives into the conflict?
Bond escapes battered, meets Charlotte Roth, pursues 009 to an airfield, boards an aircraft, is thrown out mid-flight, attaches a tracker, and finally manages to steal a parachute while falling through the air.
London – Loss and Consequences
Despite these efforts, the pursuit of 009 appears to end in tragedy.
From the earliest official synopsis released by IO Interactive when the game was first announced, we already know that this mission will lead to devastating consequences and ultimately bring Bond together with his future mentor Greenway.
If the story focuses tightly on Bond’s development, it would make narrative sense if other members of the training program were killed during these events.
This interpretation aligns with the powerful scene showing Bond standing before coffins draped in Union Jack flags, strongly recalling the iconic Skyfall moment where M mourns fallen agents. In a way, the roles almost seem reversed here: while the seasoned Bond in Skyfall appears more emotionally guarded, the younger Bond in 007 First Light still seems deeply affected by the loss of his fellow operatives.
Bond appears to linger at the memorial long after the ceremony has ended. A female hand gently touches his, reminding him to move on. Some fans believe this could be a surviving candidate in a wheelchair. However, it may also represent something more symbolic — perhaps Bond imagining one of the fallen agents urging him to let go. If so, it could even suggest that this woman meant more to him than just a colleague in the training program.
One figure at the memorial stands out in particular: a gray-haired man who praises Bond for his actions in Iceland, calling him a “rare breed.”
At first I wondered whether this could be 009 himself, demonstrating his manipulative superiority. However, that seems unlikely. Many fans instead speculate that this man could be Bill Tanner, MI6’s Chief of Staff.
Shortly afterward, we see Bond again in M’s office — wearing the very same outfit from the funeral scene. Greenway sits beside him and openly protests that Bond is not ready yet, clearly challenging M’s decision. This moment likely connects directly to the aftermath of the Slovakia mission and the losses suffered there.
It would therefore make sense if M ultimately decides to place the now injured Greenway at Bond’s side from this point onward, ensuring that the young agent receives the guidance he clearly still needs.
London — Bond Takes Out the Trash
The chase after the blond assassin eventually brings Bond to Kensington.
After infiltrating the Webb Industries museum gala, Bond pursues the killer aka blond bellhop across the rooftops of London. At one point he nearly falls when the assassin kicks him toward the edge.
Another scene likely follows shortly afterward. Bond exits a building early morning and encounters a convoy of dark SUVs belonging to an opposing faction.
Bond takes cover while the vehicles suddenly come under gunfire from above, suggesting yet another faction involved in the conflict.
On the right side of the frame we can briefly see the garbage truck that Bond later drives through London — smashing through streets and even plowing through a shopping arcade, as seen in the gameplay trailer.
Aleph, Mauritania — A Mission That Spirals Out of Control
The trailer also reveals more of Aleph in Mauritania.
Bond approaches the facility in a Land Rover Defender 110, driving toward a vast field of solar panels. In another scene he walks through a black market, observing the surroundings.
The trailer emphasizes how vertical the level design appears to be. Bond uses pulley systems, ladders, and multiple elevation levels.
Some enemies carry sniper rifles, suggesting that long-range engagements will play a role in navigating the large spaces.
The environment also appears far more destructible than in Hitman. Bond blows up bridges, smashes enemies through wooden walls and televisions, and even causes comedic moments where enemies receive electric shocks revealing their skeletons.
Despite their efforts to remain undetected, Bond and Greenway are eventually confronted by a group of armed men. Bond takes one look at them and dryly remarks, “Housekeeping, I presume.” Moments later, the two MI6 operatives find themselves captured.
This moment likely leads into the subsequent confrontation with Bawma, followed by the mysterious escape from the crocodile pit.
One particularly striking moment shows the masked villain — now revealed to have long hair — firing a rocket launcher at the two MI6 agents, who appear to be attempting to escape in a jeep. The build of this person appears relatively slim and athletic, not heavily muscular.
Some fans have speculated that this could be Damian, a character previously seen at the bar in the Kensington museum alongside Charlotte Roth. However, the possibility that a woman could be hiding behind the male mask would certainly make for a compelling twist.
Vietnam — The Resort Mystery
Another fascinating scene takes place at what appears to be a tropical resort, likely in Vietnam. Among all the locations shown in the trailer, this one may also represent the point furthest along in the story.
For a long time I assumed the woman in the red bikini was Charlotte Roth. The story trailer now confirms that she is someone else, as Roth’s distinctive mole on her chin is missing.
IO Interactive has revealed many actors associated with the cast, but not the actress behind this character.
Interestingly, IMDb lists actress Raquel Cipriano as playing a character named Theresa Lorca. Cipriano is a Portuguese-born actress based in London who has appeared in several television and film productions — including a role in Amazon’s The Wheel of Time. She also bears a certain resemblance to the woman seen in the trailer, which leads me to suspect that Lorca may already have been quietly revealed.
One intriguing detail returns from the reveal trailer: the necklace with a green stone that the woman wears. It appears again in the new footage. Could it hide a key or data storage device?
Her behavior toward Bond seems flirtatious and friendly. In the reveal trailer, the logo on the laptop she appears to be carrying by the pool caught our attention, and at the time we speculated that it might reference Webb Industries — potentially linking her to the London gala. Interestingly, Bond is also seen stealing a phone bearing the Webb Industries logo in the same trailer. The initials “WI” appear repeatedly throughout the footage — visible in London and possibly even on the laptop case itself — hinting that Webb Industries could play a broader role within the story.
This raised the possibility that Webb Industries could serve as a front company for the game’s main antagonistic faction, perhaps even with ties to Spectre — or alternatively represent a third faction, one that might ultimately assist Bond in his fight against the real enemy.
Bond films often feature two Bond girls: one who survives and one who does not. Could she be one of them? Or could she secretly be a high-ranking operative within a criminal organization, similar to Fiona Volpe in Thunderball or Pussy Galore in Goldfinger? And perhaps the most intriguing possibility of all: could she even be the mysterious figure behind the golden mask?
Peace does not last long at the resort. As already shown in the reveal trailer, Bond dons a white dinner jacket, fights enemies on the beach under fireworks, and sneaks past armed guards through the hotel complex.
Neon Hölle and a Knowing Smile
Two scenes stand somewhat apart from the main narrative.
In one, Bond sits beside a blonde woman at a bar. She looks at him intently while Bond turns away with visible annoyance. The lighting — purple and violet — suggests the same nightclub seen earlier in the announcement trailer, where Bond pushes through the crowd while awkwardly adjusting his earpiece. We still don’t know where this location is meant to be set. However, the neon colors and the industrial club aesthetic strongly resemble Club Hölle in Berlin from the Hitman universe — raising the intriguing possibility of a subtle crossover or visual homage.
One of my favorite moments, however, is the brief exchange between Moneypenny and Bond. She asks him not to do anything foolish. Bond insists that he is not an idiot. Moneypenny simply smiles and responds with a soft, knowing “huh.”
The scene perfectly captures their dynamic: Bond’s stubborn impulsiveness contrasted with Moneypenny’s calm, analytical composure — likely shaped by her background with O15, the Counter Terrorism Command of London’s Metropolitan Police.
Image credits: trailer snapshots – IO Interactive; M at the fallen agents’ memorial in Skyfall (2012) — EON Productions / MGM,
What do you think of our chronological breakdown of the trailer? Would you place the scenes in the same order — or did you notice something we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
