There’s a moment in the opening titles of 007 First Light that feels easy to overlook — but it might be one of the most revealing details we’ve seen so far.
When the credits introduce the cast, IO Interactive doesn’t present a long list of names. Instead, the sequence focuses tightly on the central characters of the story. One by one, the key figures are named: Patrick Gibson as Bond, Priyanga Burford as M, Alastair Mackenzie as Q, Kiera Lester as Moneypenny, Lennie James as John Greenway, Noemie Nakai as Miss Roth, Gemma Chan as Dr. Selina Tan, and Lenny Kravitz as Bawma.
This is clearly not a broad ensemble, but a carefully selected group that represents the narrative core of 007 First Light.
And then, almost quietly, two additional names appear: Bart Edwards and Anthony Howell.
What makes this so striking is not just their placement, but their complete absence from everything we’ve seen so far. IO Interactive has not mentioned either actor in trailers, dev diaries, or official press material.
At the same time, two of the most important opposing forces in the story have remained hidden. The main antagonist has only ever been shown wearing a golden mask, his identity carefully concealed — and notably, we haven’t heard a single spoken word from him so far, despite multiple appearances.
Agent 009, meanwhile, has only been revealed through fragmented imagery in the Story Trailer, never fully shown.
So before jumping to conclusions, it’s worth taking a closer look at the two actors themselves.
Bart Edwards
Bart Edwards (born 1989 in Guildford, England) is a classically trained British actor who studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, one of the UK’s most respected acting academies.
He has appeared in productions such as UnREAL, State of Happiness, EastEnders, Young Wallander, and The Witcher. In The Witcher, he portrayed Duny — a cursed knight whose true identity is hidden, later revealed to be Emhyr var Emreis, the future Emperor of Nilfgaard.
Over time, his work has ranged from contemporary drama to period settings, often placing him in roles connected to political, historical, or character-driven narratives.
His film and television work reflects a steady progression across different genres and international productions, with appearances in both European and US-based projects.
What makes his placement particularly interesting becomes clearer when looking at him alongside Patrick Gibson.
Edwards carries a similar on-screen presence, with a comparable physicality and a level of charisma that would not feel out of place in a Bond role. There is a certain familiarity in how he fits into that space — not as a direct counterpart, but as someone who shares key traits with the character.
At the same time, Edwards is around six years older than Gibson. That difference could perhaps contribute to the dynamic between the characters — especially if he serves as a kind of dark mirror to Bond: someone who may already embody the agent Bond could become, shaped by different choices, experiences, or a fundamentally altered view of the world.
Image credits: IO Interactive, Bang Media International
Anthony Howell
Anthony Howell (born June 27, 1971 in the Lake District, England) is a highly experienced British actor with a strong background in both television and classical theatre.
He trained at the highly regarded Drama Centre London. Howell is best known for his long-running role as Sergeant Paul Milner in Foyle’s War, but his career extends far beyond that. Alongside extensive stage work, including performances with the Royal Shakespeare Company, he has built a strong presence in narrative-driven video games.
He has built an extensive list of roles in the gaming world, including Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Dragon Age: Inquisition, Final Fantasy XVI & XIV, Elden Ring, Lies of P, and Diablo IV.
A small but telling detail: Howell also played Samuels in Alien: Isolation and Bahavas / Dervahl in Horizon: Zero Dawn— two games whose soundtracks were composed by The Flight, the same duo now working on 007 First Light.
There is also a subtle connection to his co-star. While Bart Edwards appeared in The Witcher series, Howell is part of the wider Witcher universe as well, having voiced multiple characters in Thronebreaker: The Witcher Tales.
Image credit: IO Interactive, Doug Peters.
Did Bond Already Meet 009?
The gameplay reveal suggests that 009 and Greenway belong to the same generation of 00 agents, meaning the actor cast as 009 should plausibly align with Lennie James’s age range. In that regard, Anthony Howell fits the profile very well — both in terms of age and overall presence. If needed, the character could also be subtly aged digitally, as demonstrated with Q, portrayed by Alastair Mackenzie, to further reinforce that alignment.
Notably, 009 is described as having once been “the best” — a detail that may point to a different dynamic than in earlier Bond stories.
A further thought comes from the Story Trailer. During the funeral scene, an older, graying man stands beside Bond, praising his actions in Iceland and calling him a “rare breed” — while also showing a noticeable interest in what Bond will do next. While many assume this could be someone like Bill Tanner, M’s Chief of Staff and a long-time MI6 insider in the Bond universe, it may be worth considering another possibility: that this man could in fact be 009 — already present, but not yet revealed, and perhaps quietly trying to influence Bond. For now, this remains speculative.
Whoever the man in the Story Trailer may be, his voice at least aligns strikingly well with Anthony Howell’s.
Image credit: IO Interactive
So what do you think? Could this casting work for you? What role do you see these characters playing in the story? And could the man with the golden mask ultimately be a kind of “dark apprentice” shaped by 009?
Source:
YouTube.com – 007 First Light Title Sequence – Lana Del Rey
YouTube.com – 007 First Light – Story Trailer
