Almost 20 years ago, a new age of James Bond movies was getting underway. As Casino Royale was making its way into the world, no one knew what to expect from Daniel Craig’s debut in the time tested tuxedo. I’m not mentioning this milestone out of thin air though, as the official 007 social media presence highlighted that the first full trailer actually dropped today – September 8th – back in 2006!

While there seems to be a bit of a snafu that posted the first teaser for Casino Royale instead of the reel that actually debuted today, you needn’t worry. The actual trailer is…included below, for your enjoyment. And as you can see for yourself, this reel is still nothing short of pure 00-joy:

Like any good brand-operated imprint, the post asked fans to remember where they were when they first saw director Martin Campbell’s second 007 film advertised in such a manner. But instead, I’d like to talk about why this particular coming attraction was so effective in relaunching the James Bond legacy for a younger generation.

Casino Royale’s First Full Trailer Still Rocks, From Top To Bottom

Casino Royale’s teaser was, as M’s description of the Walther PPK goes, like a brick through a plate-glass window. So clearly the full trailer needed to do something special to wow the crowd, and that it did. Keep in mind, this was back in the days when watching a trailer meant patiently downloading a QuickTime file; so you had plenty of time to really dig into the details of a video, whether you liked it or not.

That just meant more time to drink in how familiar hallmarks like flashy looking Aston Martins, tuxedos, and a restatement of the classic James Bond theme were all made new again. The theme in particular gives this video a healthy dose of adrenaline, gradually building to the final push that gives us the guitar riff we were all waiting for. Even for a soft reboot, Casino Royale played its cards rather well in telling an unpredictable story with a character we thought we knew.

Even knowing how this particular story paid off, you couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartbreak when Vesper Lynd (Eva Green) inquired about 007’s emotional armor. That sort of emotional vulnerability would grow to become more prominent than ever through Daniel Craig’s films. That ultimately redeemed anyone who appreciated 1969’s On Her Majesty’s Secret Service as the (formerly) underrated masterpiece it is; especially when it came to 2021’s No Time to Die.

Though it was merely the beginning, Casino Royale called the shot for the Craig years effectively, and with loads of panache. It’s kind of fitting that Mads Mikkelsen’s Dust Bunny trailer would drop on this very same day. Just as he impressed in those quick glimpses as Le Chiffre, his reunion with Hannibal’s Bryan Fuller did quite a bit in a short amount of time. So if anyone ever tells you that no one can make a good trailer again, sit them down in front of these two examples, and prove them soundly wrong.

You can apply that same sentiment to James Bond as well, as the trailer for 007 First Light is currently online – and it operates on the same exact principles that made Casino Royale’s first full trailer an absolute gem. Which is the perfect thing to help tide us over until Denis Villeneuve’s Bond 26 goes into production.