Haven’t read the Ambler novels, will check them out. Raven is a much more thoughtfully drawn and nuanced character than Bond imo. I’m still not clear on how that helps modern writers overcome the character defining anachronisms of the Fleming’s creation though.
Have the hired killer undergo an awakening and turn against the system he's part of
That would be an interesting change of direction but it touches on two of my original points. 1 - it would mean changing the character so far beyond recognition that I don’t think it stands up. 2 - the Bourne trilogy already did precisely this, more convincingly than Bond could imo.
But original Book Bond already has doubts about what he's doing, right from the final chapters of Casino Royale. The trouble was Fleming didn't have the talent to flesh out that aspect, which I think he realised.
I agree, there is more emotional depth to the character in the books. His choices and responses feel a lot more unpredictable too. He’s more insecure and I always loved the strong sense that he is winging it most of the time.
The issue, I think, is that film Bond is a prisoner of the tropes introduced in Connery thru Moore eras and it would be nigh on impossible to unscramble that egg now. I’m not sure that the original incarnation of book Bond has sufficient relevance to a modern movie audience to overcome that.
Which is why a pivot to Greene/Ambler brings in billionaire industrialists as the baddies, which makes it more topical and relevant
I feel like this would be an interesting route to go down if you were committed to giving the character a proper swan song and burning his bridges (and online fandom) behind him. I could get more onboard with that than the nonsensical nanobot self-sacrifice they went with in the last movie.
Do you mind if I ask where you would recommend starting with Ambler please? Dark Frontier or is there a better entry point?
Uncommon Danger is good for the grand conspiracy side.