One figure within MI6 who fundamentally disagrees with Bond being recruited into the agency, at least at first, is John Greenway. Played by fan-favorite actor Lennie James, Greenway is a veteran 00 Agent who sees Bond as a reckless addition to the program and makes his displeasure regarding his presence vocally clear for much of the game. However, Greenway warms up to the new recruit as they begin working together on the field, weathering triumph and tragedy as Bond’s evolution into the secret agent that we know and love is noticed by his mentor.
“A scene we shot quite early on is where Greenway lays out the reasons why Bond is a bad idea. It is spoken by someone who believes it,” explains James. “Over time and circumstance, Bond proves him wrong. The strength of Greenway is to admit that. Greenway, almost against his better instincts, starts to care about Bond. I think that’s a testament, not only to Bond, but the Bond that [Patrick Gibson] has created, that you believe that journey and transition is possible. He gives you an understanding of why we like Bond and why we’re on his side.”
Complementing the MI6 ensemble is the agency’s genius quartermaster and inventor Q, with Alastair Mackenzie delivering an unflappable yet warm performance as the quirky gadget expert. Q quickly recognizes Bond’s potential and welcomes him into MI6 and provides him with the signature hi-tech tools to give him the edge on the field. Mackenzie relished what recording his performance entailed, with so much of his character’s appearance and world around him being digitized after his delivery, it let him rely on his imagination and acting instincts. Mackenzie also appreciated how clear of a motivation and moral compass that Q has in his role at MI6.
“He’s an inventor and he’s got a calling for these extraordinary adventures and purpose for all of it – he’s saving the world,” Mackenzie shares. “He’s got a high calling, which I find interesting. I find the idea of having a clear moral sense of purpose right up my alley. I like the Saville Row idea of it as well, that he’s well-put together but that he’s not vain. There’s no vanity to it, he’s just proper.”
For director Martin Emborg, working with such a talented cast elevated the material, especially as the actors added their own spin and observations on the characters that weren’t necessarily present in the original script. Having lived with the story in his head for so long during the development process, the chance to share it with the cast and see them work with the material was an enlightening one. As the creative team got a feel for the story’s tone as the production continued, they found themselves revisiting certain moments to make the experience flow better, particularly with the systemic dialogue within the game.
“We had a few scenes with Bond where it became a little too somber and serious,” Emborg explains further. “It is a balancing act. Because the story goes through a lot, with a lot of tonal shifts in it, you have sections that are very informed by darkness and sections that are very playful. So, we had a few scenes that we had to do again because it didn’t sit well in the flow of things.”
