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Happy New Year! It’s finally 2007, the year of 007. We’re not going to get any huge Bond releases this year (2008 sees the release of the Ian Fleming Centenary novel, Bond 22 and Activision’s debut James Bond video game) but 2007 has its share of anniversaries and landmarks: 
- Sir Roger Moore, the third official James Bond actor, turns eighty years old on 14 October. This day also marks the second anniversary of Daniel Craig’s introduction as the sixth official actor to become James Bond.
- Fifty years ago on 8 April, Ian Fleming published his fifth James Bond novel, From Russia, With Love.
- Forty-five years ago, Albert R. “Cubby” Broccoli and Harry Saltzman formed Eon Productions to make the first James Bond film, Dr. No.
- Twenty years ago on 29 June, Timothy Dalton debuted as the fourth official James Bond in The Living Daylights.
- Eighteen years ago on 7 March, I was born. I will officially become an adult this year meaning I can now purchase Playboy, cigarettes, lottery tickets, get a credit card, vote in elections and be tried as an adult in a court of law in the United States. This day also marks the sixth anniversary of me becoming a James Bond fan.
- Ten years ago, Raymond Benson published his first James Bond novel, Zero Minus Ten.
- Five years ago on 18 November, Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan’s final outing as James Bond, premiered.
- Four years ago, I joined CommanderBond.net on 2 March, Daniel Craig’s thirty-fifth birthday. He wasn’t Bond yet but it’s a cool fact.
- Three years ago on 13 February, I posted 2004: Looking Forward, the first annual Looking Forward article.
- The latest James Bond film, Casino Royale, will become the highest grossing James Bond film in the United States in January 2007.
- And finally, on 14 June, I will graduate high school. Go Class of 2007!
Casino Royale (2006) will be released on DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD) on 13 March in the United States and 27 March in the United Kingdom. It is currently unknown whether the cover art for Casino Royale will match the cover art of the twenty new Ultimate Edition DVDs. If the United Kingdom is lucky and gets a cover that matches, the United States will probably be out of luck since we always get stiffed when it comes to things like that.
On 3 January, the title of Charlie Higson’s third Young Bond novel will be revealed at Waterstone’s Piccadilly. Will it be The Deadlock Cipher (my personal favourite), Double or Die, or N.E.M.E.S.I.S.? Stay tuned to CommanderBond.net to find out. On the following day, Young Bond 3 will be released in the United Kingdom. The second major literary release is the reprint of John Pearson’s 1973 novel, James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 on 4 October in the United Kingdom. Samantha Weinberg a.k.a. Kate Westbrook’s third and final installment of The Moneypenny Diaries is expected sometime this year in the United Kingdom. The United States release dates for all three of the aforementioned novels are unknown at this time.
UPDATE: Young Bond 3 is Double or Die.
Titan Books has two upcoming graphic novel releases: James Bond: Trouble Spot by Jim Lawrence (writer) and Yaroslav Horak (artist) will be released on 30 January in the United States and James Bond: The Phoenix Project by Jim Lawrence (writer) and Yaroslav Horak (artist) will be released on 23 February in the United Kingdom.
This year Sir Sean Connery turns 77 years old, George Lazenby turns 68, Sir Roger Moore turns 80, Timothy Dalton turns 63, Pierce Brosnan turns 54 and Daniel Craig will be 39 years old as filming commences on Bond 22 in either late 2007 or early 2008.
It’s a shame a Bond film isn’t going to be released in 2007 to capitalize on the series’ forty-fifth anniversary and Bond’s number, 007, but at least we only have to wait two years to see Daniel Craig’s second outing as Ian Fleming’s James Bond 007, which hits theaters on 7 November 2008. 2007 is going to be great but 2008 is definitely going to be better in terms of Bond events. We’re going to get the Ian Fleming Centenary novel, Young Bond 4, Bond 22 and Activision’s debut James Bond video game just to name a few.
Film Anniversaries (UK &/or US)
- 45th: Dr. No (1962) - 5 October
- 40th: Casino Royale (1967) - 13 April & 28 April
- 40th: You Only Live Twice (1967) - 12 June & 13 June
- 30th: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) - 13 July & 3 August
- 20th: The Living Daylights (1987) - 29 June & 31 July
- 10th: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) - 12 December & 19 December
- 5th: Die Another Day (2002) - 20 November & 22 November
Novel Anniversaries
- 50th: From Russia, With Love (1957) by Ian Fleming
- 45th: The Spy Who Loved Me (1962) by Ian Fleming
- 30th: James Bond: The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) (Novelisation) by Christopher Wood
- 25th: For Special Services (1982) by John Gardner
- 20th: No Deals, Mr. Bond (1987) by John Gardner
- 15th: Death is Forever (1992) by John Gardner
- 10th: Zero Minus Ten (1997) by Raymond Benson
- 10th: Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) (Novelisation) by Raymond Benson
- 5th: The Man With The Red Tattoo (2002) by Raymond Benson
- 5th: Die Another Day (2002) (Novelisation) by Raymond Benson
Casino Royale Releases
- 5 January: Italy
- 30 January: China
Novel Releases
- 4 January: Double or Die by Charlie Higson (UK)
- 1 April: Blood Fever (Paperback) by Charlie Higson (US)
- 4 October: James Bond: The Authorised Biography of 007 (Reprint) by John Pearson (UK)
- ?: The Moneypenny Diaries: Book 3 by Samantha Weinberg (Kate Westbrook) (UK)
Titan Books Releases
- 30 January: James Bond: Trouble Spot by Jim Lawrence (writer) & Yaroslav Horak (artist) (US)
- 23 February: James Bond: The Phoenix Project by Jim Lawrence (writer) & Yaroslav Horak (artist) (UK)
Sideshow Collectibles Release(s)
- Perhaps a 12 inch Daniel Craig figure?
Miscellaneous Releases
- 4 January: Double or Die (Audiobook) by Charlie Higson (UK)
- 13 March: Casino Royale (2006) DVD/BD (US)
- 27 March: Casino Royale (2006) DVD/BD (UK)
- 10 April: Blood Fever (Audiobook) by Charlie Higson (US)
007 Actor Birthdays
- 2 March: Daniel Craig (2006-Present) - 39 y/o
- 21 March: Timothy Dalton (1987-1989) - 63 y/o
- 16 May: Pierce Brosnan (1995-2002) - 54 y/o
- 25 August: Sean Connery (1962-1967;1971;1983) - 77 y/o
- 9 September: George Lazenby (1969) - 68 y/o
- 14 October: Roger Moore (1973-1985) - 80 y/o
