A new James Bond video game, titled 007: First Light, is set to be released on May 27, 2026. This will be the first James Bond video game release since 007 Legends in 2012. Along with the new game, Lana Del Rey has recorded and released the theme song titled “First Light.” The new track was released as a surprise on April 16, ahead of the game’s release next month. It was created with veteran James Bond composer David Arnold and features the iconic orchestral sound many are familiar with in the James Bond canon.
James Bond video games were massively popular in the 1990s and 2000s, along with the popularity of the films starring Pierce Brosnan. Fans of the movies and video games are highly anticipating the release of a new game, fueling gamer nostalgia. Popular James Bond video games include GoldenEye 007 for the N64 in 1997, and 007: Nightfire, released for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube in 2002. GoldenEye 007 is often considered one of the best video games released for the N64 during the height of the console’s popularity in the late 1990s.
Previously, Lana Del Rey Attempted to Pitch the Bond Theme for the Film ‘Spectre’ in 2007
In 2007, Lana Del Rey pitched a song for the 2007 James Bond film Spectre, starring Daniel Craig. Instead, Sam Smith’s “Writing’s On The Wall” was chosen for the film. She wasn’t the only one denied, though. Radiohead also wrote and recorded a possible theme song for the film. Radiohead’s song was later released for free after being turned down. Del Rey has since sought to be the next contributor to the James Bond franchise.
It’s become an honor to contribute the theme song for a James Bond release, dating back to the 1960s. The iconic theme song for 1964’s Goldfinger was released the same year as the film, sung by Shirley Bassey. The iconic brass-driven track became a No. 8 hit on the Billboard Hot 100. Another iconic James Bond theme song was released by Paul McCartney & Wings in 1973, titled Live And Let Die. The track reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hit No. 1 on the US Cashbox and Record World charts. Paul McCartney continues to perform the track on tour to this day.
Three previous James Bond theme songs have won Academy Awards for Best Original Song. Those include “Writing’s On The Wall” by Sam Smith in 2007, “Skyfall” by Adele in 2012, and “No Time To Die” by Billie Eilish in 2021.
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