Motifs in the James Bond film series Bond" actors. Llewelyn's first film was the second in the Eon series, "From Russia with Love", after the actor who played the part in "Dr. No", Peter Burton, was unavailable for the filming schedule. (Burton's character was not yet called Q, but "the Armourer", Major Boothroyd, who instructed Bond on a new firearm, the Walther PPK.) After appearing as Q's assistant in "The World Is Not Enough", John Cleese appeared as Q in Pierce Brosnan's last film, "Die Another Day". For Daniel Craig's third film, "Skyfall", the character was re-introduced, with Ben Whishaw playing the part. The first Bond film,
Desmond Llewelyn film alludes to Q's retirement, to which Bond, after seeing Q, expresses his hope that it will not be any time soon. Q's response is to admonish Bond to "always have an escape plan", after which he lowers himself through the floor of his lab. Llewelyn had stated not long before his death that he had no plans to retire and that he would continue playing Q "as long as the producers want me and the Almighty doesn't." In the 2002 film "Die Another Day", John Cleese's character is the head of Q branch, having inherited the title of quartermaster