James Bond’s Newest Actor Had His Breakout in Netflix’s Near-Perfect Sci-Fi Series 10 Years Ago

Denis Villeneuve‘s James Bond is still years away from hitting the big screen, but fans may have already found their next 007. With the franchise’s 26th film expected in 2028, debate continues over who should inherit the iconic role, with names such as Jacob Elordi, Damson Idris, Callum Turner, Henry Cavill, Theo James, and even Tom Holland frequently mentioned. Amid the ongoing speculation, IO Interactive took the unexpected step of casting Patrick Gibson as Bond in the latest franchise entry.

Gibson’s new role has already generated excitement among modern audiences, with some wondering whether the franchise is in exceptionally capable hands. However, longtime television fans may already recognize him from Netflix‘s near-perfect, mind-bending sci-fi series The OA, in which he delivered a masterful performance that significantly raised his profile. While he has taken on several notable projects since then, The OA remains one of his most memorable roles to date, suggesting he is certainly not your regular 007 agent.

Netflix’s ‘The OA’ Revealed Patrick Gibson’s Range

When The OA premiered on December 16, 2016, it was unlike anything else on television. Blending supernatural mystery, interdimensional science fiction, and fantasy, the series relied on its ensemble cast to ground its ambitious concepts with emotional depth. In it, we see Prairie Johnson (Brit Marling), a young blind woman, return home after disappearing for seven years. Her return raises further questions when it is revealed that she is no longer blind. While she refuses to explain her disappearance to the FBI and her parents, she shares her story with four teenagers and a schoolteacher, revealing how she became the “Original Angel.”

Among The OA’s talented ensemble cast was Gibson, who portrayed Steve Winchell, one of the four teenagers drawn into Prairie’s story. What made Gibson’s performance so compelling was his delivery of one of television’s most dramatic redemption arcs. Steve begins as an aggressive, self-destructive bully, but over the course of two seasons, Gibson gradually unveils a deeply wounded yet fiercely loyal character who undergoes a profound spiritual awakening.

That arc reaches a turning point in The OA Part I finale, when Steve joins the group in performing the Movements to open a portal, allowing the “OA” to travel to another dimension. He then chases the ambulance carrying Prairie. By the jaw-dropping Part II finale, the arc culminates. We see Marling appear as herself in a new dimension, injured on a film set, and, at the same time, Jason Isaacs—whose character, Hunter Aloysius ‘Hap’ Percy, has crossed dimensions—enters an ambulance with her. Believing he has finally succeeded, Hap is beyond shocked when a fully synchronized Steve suddenly jumps inside the moving vehicle and greets him, saying, “Hello, Hap.”

Unfortunately, fans never got to see what happened next. On August 5, 2019, Netflix cancelled The OA after two seasons despite its strong critical reception, thus ending the story on a cliffhanger. As a result, Steve’s fate and his role in the sci-fi drama’s larger mystery remain unresolved. Even so, creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, along with Isaacs, have continued to express hope that the planned five-season story can one day be completed.

Patrick Gibson’s James Bond Redefines the Franchise’s Future

Image via IO Interactive

Gibson’s compelling character arc in The OA laid the foundation for his place in gaming history, showcasing the very traits required to portray a younger, less refined version of Bond. This is particularly evident in the first major franchise game in over a decade, 007 First Light. The new game emerged following a hiatus triggered by the critical and commercial failure of 007 Legends in 2012.

007 First Light is an original narrative inspired by Ian Fleming’s novels and short stories, as well as the long-running film series. It serves as an origin story for the renowned intelligence agent, focusing on a 26-year-old, inexperienced Bond tasked with a mission that, if completed successfully, will earn him his ’00’ status. Players guide the character through training and field missions in the third-person action game, with full control over how to tackle each operation. They can either go in aggressively with weapons and hand-to-hand combat, or take a stealthy approach, using the environment, deception, and social engineering to slip past or outwit enemies.

With no actor yet cast to succeed Daniel Craig in the film series at the time of development, IO Interactive had significant creative freedom in shaping its version of Bond. That ultimately led to Gibson being cast as Bond in 007 First Light. Narrative and cinematic director Martin Emborg noted that the actor brought a sense of “built-in impatience” that was “perfect” for a younger Bond. Beyond that, the character still exudes natural charisma but is also defined by a fearless inner intensity rooted in childhood trauma—an energy reflected in his fighting style.

007 First Light was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on May 27, 2026, with a Nintendo Switch 2 version scheduled for later in the year. It immediately received strong critical and commercial acclaim, selling 2.7 million units in its first week and earning praise for its gameplay, combat system, writing, and Gibson’s performance as Bond. Note that the game is unrelated to Villeneuve’s upcoming James Bond film reboot, which Amazon MGM Studios is developing.

Gibson’s breakout in The OA from a decade ago now reads like an early preview of the intensity he brings to Bond in 007 First Light. His casting reflects IO Interactive’s broader reimagining of the franchise, shaping a younger, more reckless 007 agent built around emotional edge as much as action. In reimagining Bond through Gibson, the game doesn’t just refresh a familiar character; it subtly resets expectations for where the franchise can go next.

The OA streams on Netflix.

Release Date

2016 – 2019-00-00

Network

Netflix

Directors

Andrew Haigh

Writers

Dominic Orlando, Henry Bean, Damien Ober, Ruby Rae Spiegel

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