007: First Light Knows The Key Ingredient To A Great James Bond Adventure

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For 25 years, IO Interactive has been crafting stories around the Hitman character, Agent 47. Now, the studio is starting a new project focused on James Bond. ‘007: First Light‘ will explore Bond’s origins as a secret agent, showing his first missions and introducing a cast of interesting characters.

During The Game Awards, the first villain in the new game was unveiled: the pirate king Bawma. It was also announced that Lenny Kravitz, the actor and musician, will play this role. Previously, IO Interactive had confirmed that Gemma Chan will portray Dr. Selina Tan, one of James Bond’s allies, in the game.

TopMob recently interviewed Martin Emborg, the narrative director for 007: First Light. They discussed what makes the game’s story compelling, the challenges of sharing details before release, and where players will encounter the character Bawma in the game.

Becoming Bawma

Before Lenny Kravitz joined the project, the team was developing the character of Bawma. However, once Kravitz signed on, he played a significant role in shaping the character we see in the trailer from The Game Awards.

As a fan, I always got the impression Bawma was meant to be a really vibrant and memorable character. When Lenny joined the project, he truly helped bring that vision to life! He had a huge impact on everything about Bawma – his awesome look, his personality, and even his history. We worked closely with him, bouncing ideas back and forth, to really build Bawma into the character we all love.

Who is Bawma, and what’s the story with Aleph, the dangerous location in Mauritania where Bond will face him? According to Emborg, Aleph is a risky place for a new agent to go undercover, and Bawma rules it with strict control.

According to Emborg, Aleph is a dangerous kingdom ruled by the pirate king Bawma. It initially seems like a place for exciting adventures, but quickly reveals itself to be treacherous. Once you’re inside, you realize it’s a place you probably shouldn’t be, but that’s what makes it one of Emborg’s favorite locations in the game.

When asked what initially motivates Bond’s journey to Aleph, Emborg remained intentionally vague. He expressed a desire for players to experience the story with no prior knowledge, saying, “Ideally, everyone would watch a short teaser, instantly purchase the game, and dive in completely unaware.” He explained that while he enjoys building anticipation, he believes revealing too much in trailers can diminish the impact of discovering the story firsthand, so he prefers to keep details under wraps to maintain a sense of freshness.

He clarified that Bawma is a villain in the game 007: First Light, but not the only villain – players can expect to face other enemies as well.

Cards close to the chest

Although it’s appealing to imagine players discovering the game on their own, Emborg knows his team needs to promote it and highlight its exciting features. He recognizes the importance of building excitement, but also wants to avoid revealing too much. “With a big entertainment product like this, you have to show people what to expect,” Emborg explained. “This trailer is a good way to introduce a character like Lenny, but we need to decide how much detail to share.”

Look, as a huge Bond fan, I get it – they want to show us some cool stuff! Ideally, it would be amazing to go into a new Bond movie knowing absolutely nothing, and still be blown away. But they also want us to enjoy it, and they don’t want to give away too much beforehand. They’re trying to strike a balance, and honestly, I’m okay with that – I still expect a fantastic experience no matter what!

The team is incredibly excited as the launch date approaches, and Emborg is particularly eager for players to experience the story they’ve built. “After working on this for so long, it’s thrilling to finally be here,” Emborg explained. “I can’t wait for people to play it! We’ve been sharing glimpses of the story, locations, and characters, and the full game promises a fantastic adventure.”

Emborg believes the most crucial element of the story is the characters. He explains, “Ultimately, it’s a thrilling ride, but one deeply rooted in who these people are.” When creating a Bond film, the character of James Bond himself is paramount. While audiences expect exciting adventures and supporting characters, Emborg is excited for viewers to really get to know this version of Bond, as he feels he’s a very enjoyable character.

The doctor is in

James Bond doesn’t work alone. He relies on a team, including characters like Q and M, who provide both his assignments and the gadgets he needs. Earlier this year, the creators of the Bond films introduced Dr. Selina Tan, portrayed by Gemma Chan, as one of these key supporting characters. According to the filmmakers, Chan immediately brought a unique personality to the role.

I was so excited to work with Gemma! I had this whole backstory and vision for Dr. Tan, but honestly, she completely blew me away during the audition. I scrapped all my notes because her take on the character was just perfect – she brought this amazing charm and quirkiness to Selina Tan that I hadn’t even imagined, and it was fantastic to see!

Emborg believes Chan’s performance demonstrates true acting skill, completely transforming the character. He explained that great actors thoroughly prepare and discover unexpected nuances. “They bring something to the role you didn’t anticipate,” Emborg said, “and that’s what makes them so valuable.”

Moments where an actor truly transforms a character, like Gemma Chan’s performance, are what director Emborg finds most rewarding. He explained, “I especially love when an actor brings something new to a role we’ve been developing. After spending so much time with these characters, it’s amazing when an actor walks in and suddenly unlocks a deeper understanding – it doesn’t happen often, but it’s a clear sign of a truly talented performer.”

The game 007: First Light will be released on March 27, 2026, for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

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2025-12-19 21:11