Lenny Kravitz’s pirate king Bawma fronts the villains of IO Interactive’s bold James Bond reimagining 007 First Light
Following the surprise announcement of the arrival of Milla Jovovich Hitman: World of Assassination and Gemma Chan’s next turn as Selina Tan in 007 First Lightthe whole energy in the room changed when Lenny Kravitz took the stage at the IO Interactive showcase. It was just the reveal of his swaggering new character, Pirate King Bawma, in the next James Bond adventure.
IOI wants to redefine how players connect to the Bond mythos in 2025 and beyond. During our conversation, Senior Licensing Producer Theuns Smit made one thing clear: Kravitz hasn’t just joined the world; they built part of it around it.
“Kravitz really understood the character of Bawma from the beginning,” Smit explained. “He could have that charisma, but also be the kind of antagonist where you don’t really know where you stand with him. He’s changeable. He demands respect and fear.”
A bold soundscape
According to Smit, four-time Grammy winner and star of the original hunger games the films bring such a commanding presence and effortless charisma that he slips into the role as if it was written for him, instantly feeling like he belongs in the pantheon of unforgettable Bond villains. And while Smit didn’t reveal how central Bawma is to the plot, he did promise that players will be faced with plenty of “twists and turns” and urged them to experience the journey themselves.
Given Kravitz’s musical legacy and the long history of iconic Bond themes, I had to ask the obvious question: Will First light have your own original theme song? The last time a Bond game was made was in 2010 with Joss Stone’s “I’ll Take It All” for James Bond 007: Bloodstoneand before that, Mya lent her voice to the 2004 EA title James Bond 007: All or Nothing. Smit didn’t give away any secrets, but he did emphasize how central music is to the overall vision of the game.
“We’re really working on improving the entire experience,” Smit said. “Games are often praised for their visuals, but it’s the sound that immerses you. We work with extremely talented musicians and sound designers to bring this level of musicality into the experience.”
He didn’t confirm whether a signature theme would be coming, but the way he emphasized “the complete experience” suggests something big is going on behind the scenes. And with an artist like Kravitz already in the building, the possibilities seem wide open.
Channeling Momentum as a Cornerstone of Design
Unlike previous games featuring the iconic MI6 agent, 007: First Light is not a movie tie-in but an original IOI take starring Patrick Gibson (Shadow and bones & Right hand: Original sin) as a twenty-something Bond seeking 00 status as a young MI6 agent.
As Smit puts it, “a third-person, story-driven action-adventure game” designed from the ground up to introduce an entirely new Bond into an origin story. From early previews, the game definitely draws inspiration from past gaming incarnations of Bond alongside ongoing incarnations of IO. Hitman series and more scenery-focused action that will remind many of Sony’s games Unexplored series.
This framing allows IOI to create its own cadence for Bond while respecting the decades of storytelling that came before.
“If you’re a fan, you’ll see nods to the journey and the franchise,” Smit said. “But we’re also striving to introduce a new and exciting reimagined origin story into this space.”
And unlike many previous Bond games, which relied heavily on shooting or stealth, First light channels momentum as the cornerstone of design.
“When things escalate into a firefight, Bond improvises,” Smit explained. “He grabs what’s around him, like throwing things, getting a shotgun off the ground, grabbing it in the air, shooting until it’s empty, then throwing the gun at someone and closing the gap. It’s always a forward push, a forward motion.”
This kinetic feel was showcased in the first demo of the Slovakia mission: a vehicle chase in an Aston Martin, a chase across an airfield, and Bond doing what Bond does: staying moving.
High realism
Working with a global icon like Bond means there are rules. There’s a real story spread across various media outside of film, like the Ian Fleming books that inspired the franchise. There is a tone that fans have come to expect. But Smit says the collaboration with Amazon MGM gives IOI room to maneuver.
“It’s about doing justice to the intellectual property and staying true to the story, the characters and the world,” Smit explained. “But it’s also about bringing something new to this space.”
This balance is reflected in the way First light comes close to gadgets, one of the pillars of the Bond identity. “We’re giving you the full 360 Bond experience,” Smit said before hinting at a potential hub-like area between missions. “You can go to Q Lab. You can walk up to Q. He’s a fun character in our game, and he’s the brains behind all the gadgets.”
This philosophy shaped the team’s approach to “high realism,” where everyday objects are reimagined as tools of the trade: a phone becomes a “dark phone” that triggers a blinding flash to disorient enemies, a lighter ejects balls of smoke for quick escapes, and a watch strap hides a laser capable of opening doors or disarming enemies. “It’s all about connecting gadgets to everyday things that you wouldn’t expect,” Smit added, “but are elevated into the Bond fantasy.”
Although IOI is known for its finely tuned stealth action gameplay, vehicle sequences are relatively new territory for the studio. Considering this signature is part of Bond’s identity, it was non-negotiable.
“Sometimes the story evokes a vehicle moment,” Smit said. “We wanted to honor that. It’s something new for us, but you expect it from James Bond, so we put it forward.”
IOI is on track to rebuild the Bond universe with new stars, new stories and new threats. First light it feels like the beginning of an era marked by bold choices, unforgettable personalities, and dynamic gameplay. Look for the game to release on March 27, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PC, and Nintendo Switch 2.
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