No Time to Die, the latest installment in the James Bond franchise, hits theaters this Wednesday, October 6. Ian Fleming, the creator of the iconic 007, drew inspiration from Duško Popov, a real-life Serbian spy whose exploits shaped the legendary character.
James Bond has become a cornerstone of popular culture. Even if you've never watched the films, everyone knows Agent 007.
While the movies brought Bond to global fame, the character originated from the novels of British author Ian Fleming in the 20th century. Fleming based his suave secret agent on Duško Popov, a daring real-world operative whose life mirrored Bond's adventures.
No Time to Die arrives in theaters this Wednesday, October 6—one of the most expensive Bond films ever made. Could Ian Fleming have foreseen the massive success of his creation? Unlikely. Popularized by Hollywood and stars like Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig—who dons the tuxedo for the final time in this film—Bond's origins trace back to a singular inspiration.
Enter Duško Popov, a 20th-century triple agent who worked for German, British, and Serbian intelligence services. Unlike the fictional Bond, he was Serbian, not British. His codename? "Tricycle."
James Bond fans cherish the high-stakes poker scene in Casino Royale, where Daniel Craig's Bond battles Le Chiffre, played masterfully by Mads Mikkelsen. This draws directly from a real encounter between Fleming and Popov.
In the 1940s, Fleming served as an officer in Naval Intelligence counterintelligence. The two met at a casino in Estoril, Portugal. Popov, a charismatic playboy fond of luxury cars and cocktails, posed as a high-rolling import-export businessman, as noted by RTL.
The evening's objective: project extravagance. Fleming watched Popov dominate a baccarat table—a game akin to chemin de fer, a casino favorite. Popov's theatrical performance was vividly recreated in Fleming's Casino Royale.
However, as France Info points out, one key difference sets Popov apart from Bond portrayers like Craig or Brosnan: the Serbian spy never carried a weapon.
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