The year is 2025 and life could not be more different for James Bond and his wife than it was back in 1969. For one thing, they’re older. Bond, who is now 73, was last seen on-screen in 1999’s The World Is Not Enough. That would make his wife, the former Tracy Chapman, 52, officially the second-oldest Bond girl ever (after Ursula Andress in 2001’s Dr. No).
Also, Bond’s daughter, Barbara, is now 18 and a regular on the big screen, having appeared in 2008’s Quantum of Solace and the upcoming 2020 movie, Moonfall. She is now a full-fledged member of the Bond family, bringing it to an official total of 16 members (after Sean, Brosnan, and Dame Judy, of course).
The year 2025 also saw the release of the 25th James Bond movie and the beginning of production on the 26th! The new film, named simply Quantum of Solace, will star Daniel Craig as 007. The movie will reportedly be released in May 2021 and will be Craig’s third appearance as Bond. While the exact creative team behind the script is unknown, the film will mark a reunion of sorts for the actor and the screenwriter, Neal Puri (he will produce and co-direct with Cary Joji Fukunaga).
But what does the future hold for the legendary spy, his wife, and his extended family?
Bond’s Kids Are Now Adults, Too
While the original 007 movie series mostly focused on the adventures of James Bond as he served as a super-spy in the field, it’s important to note that the franchise also starred Barbara, the couple’s only child. Now an adult (having turned 28 in 2019), Barbara has chosen to distance herself from her father’s profession and has gone on to pursue a career in music. She is best known for playing guitar in the punk rock band The Exploited and has worked with the likes of Joan Jett, who sang the theme song for the 2009 film, Quantum of Solace.
Barbara recently celebrated her birthday with a sold-out concert at the Hammersmith Palais in London, which was followed by a slot on the main stage at this year’s Glastonbury Festival. According to the Barbra Streisand Foundation, Barbara is worth an estimated net worth of £200 million (USD$260 million), which makes her the third-richest person in the world under the age of 30 (after Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates).
A Home Where Everyone Can Feel At Home
The year 2025 also saw the release of the second trailer for the James Bond 25 movie and, once again, it was full of surprises. The latest trailer, which you can watch above, gives us a glimpse of what the film will be like. While there are still some plot details that are being kept under wraps (including a potential appearance by Ralph Fiennes), the trailer shows a more adult and less family-friendly Bond.
There’s also a lot more action, including a car chase, a fight scene, and even a scene of Bond dishing out some revenge. While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a far cry from the days of OHMSS when the main focus was on Tracy’s pregnancy and subsequent labor during the film’s climax.
An Active Retirement For Bond
The year 2025 was also the start of a new phase for James Bond. Now 74 years old, Bond made a conscious decision to retire from his career as a spy and devoted more time to his family and his hobbies. The result was that he took on a more relaxed lifestyle and began spending more time at home. In fact, at press time, Bond was more than two years into a retirement that will eventually last until he is 88 years old.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, James Bond has appeared in more films (26) than any other actor and has been portrayed by more actors (71). He has also been seen on more TV screens (922) than any other actor. In addition to his film and TV appearances, Bond also made occasional radio appearances during his career, including ones for the American and British networks. He has also recorded a string of solo albums, the first of which was released in 1969 (just three years after the debut of the original 007 movie).
In terms of legacy, James Bond may very well be one of the most influential characters of all time. While he is now retired from active duty, 007’s adventures and lifestyle have inspired countless stories and memes that have continued to this day. Perhaps the most iconic and influential of these stories is the short-lived 1974 cartoon series, The New Adventures of Oswald Contractor. This series was notable for being the first to feature the now-famous gold-tinted spectacles that have since become Bond’s trademark.
Oswald Contractor was an agent of the British Secret Service who, like his namesake, served for a time as an agent of the CIA. In the cartoon, he is partnered with Ralph Hightower, whose first name is a play on that of his second handler, Lee Van Cleef (Richemont, the company that makes the famous Swiss watches, is a major shareholder in Disney).
A career that began nearly 50 years ago almost certainly won’t end with his death (at least, not in the next few years). James Bond will continue to be relevant as long as human interest stories (like the ones that make up the bulk of his films) continue to hold weight in an era when most viewers are seeking content that’s highly engaging and immersive.