Here's our full breakdown of the second trailer for James Bond performance, with only the original pre-pandemic trailer to work from.
Even before the enforced delay, No Time To Die had endured a somewhat troubled production, with original director, Danny Boyle, exiting due to creative differences. Boyle was replaced by Cary Fukunaga and Fleabag's Phoebe Waller-Bridge was brought in to make alterations to the script, allowing No Time To Die to finally take shape. Spectre. The previous No Time To Die trailer teased a deep conspiracy between these two antagonists and Bond's lover, Madeleine Swann, with 007 forced out of retirement to come back into the MI6 fold, working alongside his youngster replacement Nomi, played by Lashana Lynch.
Ahead of No Time To Die's scheduled November release, a brand new trailer has now been unveiled, offering fresh glimpses at thrilling action scenes, tantalizing mysteries and the farewell of a much-loved incarnation of Ian Fleming's iconic British spy. These are the biggest takeaways from the new No Time To Die trailer.
An Extended Bridge Sequence
No Time To Die's new trailer opens with an extended look at the bridge sequence seen previously. Trapped on a narrow stone bridge between two oncoming enemies, Bond is forced to grab a rope and haul himself over the side, swinging perilously (and painfully) away from his pursuers. This sequence appears to be the culmination of No Time To Die's opening car chase, in which Bond and Madeleine are followed through a quaint Italian town by a fleet of vehicles. It seems Bond manages to get his lover to safety and draw the goons away, finally eluding them after this daring bridge stunt.
The Past Isn't Dead
A beaten and disheveled Bond returns to Madeleine and ominously proclaims that the past isn't dead. Given the context and Bond's light brown suit, this scene likely follows Daniel Craig's impromptu bungee jump, with the former 007 returning home after his dramatic escape act. This line confirms two things: first, Bond genuinely believed he had moved on from the shadow of MI6 - that the capture of Blofeld had put an end to his misery. And secondly, James couldn't have been more wrong. Bond probably doesn't know who sent the assassins at this point in the story, but knows enough to realize there's more work to be done. This moment is contrasted by another shot later in the trailer - a flashback to James and Madeleine in happier, less dangerous times.
Aston Martin Valhalla
The futuristic Aston Martin concept car known as the Valhalla has been slated to appear in No Time To Die, and the new trailer gives a brief glimpse at the gorgeous cutting-edge supercar. The striking white vehicle can be seen behind a silhouette (possibly Ralph Fiennes' M) shortly after the traditional MGM card appears. The Valhalla is only expected to make a "cameo" in No Time To Die, so don't necessarily expect Bond to be screeching this Aston Martin around tight bends and bringing it back to MI6 in pieces. The Aston Martin DBS Superleggera driven by Nomi can also be seen in the trailer.
Nomi Has A Major Role
The first No Time To Die trailer introduced the world to Lashana Lynch's Nomi, the agent replacing Bond in MI6's double-0 program. However, the character enjoys a much bigger presence in the new footage, teasing a more significant role than some might've expected. One key scene shows Nomi walking into M's office with Q and Skyfall. Nomi won't just be cracking wise either, with images of her shooting bad guys in black-ops gear and ing Bond on some action-packed missions.
Bond & Blofeld Working Together
Blofeld's return was already confirmed by the first No Time To Die trailer, which showed MI6 calling upon the dastardly intellect of SPECTRE's former mastermind to help take down Safin. However, it wasn't completely clear whether Blofeld was trying to lighten his sentence, or whether he harbored personal beef with Safin. It's now apparent that Safin is the enemy of Blofeld, and Christoph Waltz's villain is reveling in the fact that he and Bond now have a common foe. Consequently, it can now be deduced that Safin is connected to SPECTRE in some way.
Skyscraper & Boat Explosions
There will be no shortage of action in No Time To Die, with the latest trailer highlighting some brand new adrenaline-pumping sequences. An unknown assault team descend the face of a London skyscraper, burst through a window, and drop a bomb down an elevator shaft, triggering a fiery blaze. Elements of this scene have been included in promo montages for No Time To Die, but are elaborated upon here. A second major set-piece is revealed, in which Bond is caught on a boat during an attack from the air, plunging to the blue depths below. As Daniel Craig tries to swim free of the wreckage, M seems to be following events from afar, praying for the safety of his former employee. Ocean-based settings look to be a recurring theme in No Time To Die, with missile-capable boats included in the plot.
Madeleine's Past Revealed?
No Time To Die's marketing has focused heavily on a mysterious secret connected to Madeleine Swann's past, with Bond's lover recoiling in horror after being presented with a broken mask. The new James Bond trailer gives away more about the skeletons in Madeleine's closet, as she tells Bond that Safin wants "revenge" and "her." Safin is also revealed to be present in the scene where Madeleine discovers the damaged mask, adding a personal touch to the delivery. Connecting the dots, Madeleine perhaps once worked for Safin (the broken mask was hers) and either ran away or betrayed him. Now the villain has caught up with Swann, Bond's happy ending is in serious jeopardy. James is also seen holding a note reading "forgive me," which one would naturally assume is from Madeleine after she leaves to deal with her Safin problem (following a final night of ion, obviously).
The Ballroom Sequence
No Time To Die is quite clearly brimming with beautiful cinematography, and one standout shot depicts a black and white themed ballroom event, during which Bond is lit up by a spotlight in the middle of the floor. The new trailer doesn't add much that hasn't been seen already, but it does look like those attending begin to suddenly and mysteriously drop to the floor, as James stands in the middle bewildered.
"Visitor"
Another small touch, but one well worthy of note is James Bond wearing a "visitor" badge on his return trip to MI6. This comic addition to Bond's outfit highlights just how much the secret service has moved on during Bond's five-year retirement. Even one of their most decorated agents is now deemed an outsider. This follows on from the "Bond, James Bond" skit that was included in the previous No Time To Die trailer, with the man on the desk having no idea of James' identity.
Ana de Armas' Role Explained
Even though Ana de Armas' casting in No Time To Die had already been confirmed, the actress' presence was sparse in the first trailer release. The second more than makes amends, giving de Armas plenty of time to shine, and explaining her role in the film. Fans already know that Bond is enlisted by Felix Leiter for a "favor," but it's the American CIA agent who hooks his old pal up with de Armas' Paloma. Likely one of Felix's associates, Paloma is a friend to Bond, and the pair fight alongside each other in Santiago. She also supplies the former British spy with a suave tuxedo, perhaps to wear during the aforementioned ballroom scene. Paloma looks handy with an automatic and even more lethal in hand-to-hand combat, but refreshingly, there's not yet any hint of romance between herself and James.
Safin's Plan Revealed
James Bond fans now have a fairly complete idea of what Safin's evil masterplan is in No Time To Die. The scarred villain looks to be some kind of eco-warrior who believes the best way to save humanity is by cutting down the world's population. Safin reminds James that they both "eradicate people to make the world a better place," before revealing "I just want it to be a little...tidier." Nomi then drops the helpful line, "he's going to kill millions." This spells out fairly explicitly that Safin is looking to cull the world's population in some sort of self-righteous crusade. The environmental angle is accentuated by Safin's secret base, which has the vibe of a garden store run by henchmen. Safin's masked supervillain assassin continues to eerily stalk the darkness elsewhere, including a scene standing over a prone woman, who could be Madeleine.
The Folding Plane
There's an overriding sense of old meets new in the latest No Time To Die trailer. The darkness and realism of Daniel Craig's Bond era remains intact, but there's an increased sense of fun, along with a touch of fantasy. Nowhere is this more apparent than when the folding aquatic plane bursts onto screen. Bond and Nomi take off from an air carrier (with help from Q), and the young 00 agent fearlessly its that she's never piloted the vehicle before. In a hugely impressive shot, the plane's wings retract as the vessel submerges under the waves. It's certainly hard to imagine a scene of this kind in Casino Royale, highlighting how much modern Bond has lightened up.
Felix's Warning
In a potential sign of betrayals to come, Jeffrey Wright's Felix says to Bond, "[it's] harder to tell the good from bad, heroes from villains these days." If 007 history is anything to go by, this quote could be a strong indication that at least one of Bond's allies is going to turn against him in No Time To Die. While Felix himself, or his friend Paloma, might be the most obvious candidates to scheme against Bond, the line might allude to Madeleine Swann, whose shady past is obviously the center of the entire movie.
"Nothing Left To Save"
One of the final key moments in the new No Time To Die trailer is James Bond's line, "if we don't do this, there will be nothing left to save." There's an uncharacteristic quiver in Bond's voice here - a level of anxiety and desperation that the spy doesn't usually show, even in the most dire of situations. It's fitting, and perhaps a little foreboding, that in Daniel Craig's final mission, James Bond is at his most desperate. How far will he go in order to stop Safin and protect the world? With so many lives at stake in No Time To Die, probably as far as is necessary.
