One Actor Worked With Five Bonds—And It Changes Everything You Thought About the Timeline
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
In an era where cinematic universes obsess over airtight continuity, the James Bond franchise has always stood apart—fluid, timeless, and gloriously unbothered by its own contradictions. But there’s one thread that runs more steadily through 007’s chaotic canon than even the titular spy himself: Desmond Llewelyn. His unshakable presence across five Bond portrayals—Connery, Lazenby, Moore, Dalton, and Brosnan—forces a reevaluation of the series’ timeline, raising an eyebrow at the often-dismissed idea of a connected Bond universe.
Though Bond lore is riddled with inconsistencies and soft reboots, Llewelyn’s portrayal of Q—the gadget master whose dry wit and scolding tone made him as iconic as the Aston Martin—provides a rare throughline in the series. First appearing in 1963’s From Russia with Love, Llewelyn skipped only one film (Live and Let Die) before returning to become the franchise’s longest-serving cast member. His stretch—17 films over 36 years—is more than a trivia tidbit; it’s a continuity anchor.
Despite the constant reshuffling of Bonds and storylines, Llewelyn’s presence links the vastly different tones and eras of the franchise. His interactions with every Bond before Daniel Craig create the illusion—however unintended—of a single, shared MI6 history. When Timothy Dalton’s Bond mourns a long-dead wife, referencing events from Lazenby’s turn, or when Moore’s Bond visits her grave, the subtle continuity feels purposeful. Add in Judi Dench’s crossover from Brosnan’s world into Craig’s and the waters only get murkier.
Craig’s tenure, beginning with Casino Royale, was framed as a hard reset. His Bond is younger, untested, and eventually mortal. But the appearance of Dench’s M from the Brosnan years, in what’s supposed to be a fresh start, raises questions. Is this a new Bond in a new timeline—or a narrative Möbius strip?
And yet, Llewelyn’s enduring Q may be the most compelling argument that, for all its fragmented storytelling, Bond’s cinematic saga does in fact exist within a semi-cohesive universe. One where the timeline may bend, but doesn’t fully break.
So, are all the James Bond movies connected? Not officially. But when one actor serves five different 007s their gadgets—and keeps his aging subtle enough to slip under the radar—it’s hard not to believe they might be.
