5. It Will Casino Royale's Lead
Skyfall above all else was a mission to course-correct the James Bond franchise. Quantum of Solace, though boasting some dazzling action sequences, was a flop in many key areas; it was too short and rushed, the action editing was irritating, and the plot, attempting to be a true sequel to Casino Royale, felt undernourished and really pretty boring, thanks in part to a poor choice of villain. Skyfall, operating as a standalone Bond film, managed to correct all of the aesthetic and thematic concerns people had with the previous film, bringing the character surging back to life just as he had been in Casino Royale. Skyfall has made it clear that what works is a mixture of the classier tropes of Bond with a hardened, contemporary spin. If Casino Royale was the apex of this in adapting Fleming's first novel - and Skyfall was a highly commendable fix for Quantum's mess - then the next logical step would be to again return to the novels for inspiration, and again, adapt it to a modern audience.