007 First Light Review: The Best Game Of 2026 Is Also the 26th Bond Film
IO Interactive's 007 First Light is the Bond origin story the films never told — and the best game of 2026 so far.
Jarrod Saunders is an entertainment journalist, filmmaker, and the founder of Fortress of Solitude. He began his career as a film and gaming critic for Vision Magazine in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades building one of pop culture's most distinctive independent media voices.
As an award-winning creative director, Jarrod has worked across film, graphic design, sound engineering, advertising, and web production. He founded Fortress Entertainment — a media network that includes Fortress of Solitude, Sneaker Fortress, 23 Jumpman Street, and Lifestyle Fortress — and serves as Editor in Chief across all properties. His work has been published by some of the largest entertainment platforms in the world, including The Direct (10M+ monthly readers), Nicki Swift (18M+ monthly readers), and Thought Catalog. He is a verified journalist on Muck Rack.
As a filmmaker, Jarrod holds IMDb credits as writer and director on Three Little Pigs, Sleeping Beauty, and The Living Dead: How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse. He also directed and edited The Lifesaver, a feature film that aired on Showmax, and Home, recognised as the first deaf film of its kind produced in South Africa. Throughout his career he has conducted on-the-record interviews with actors, directors, and game developers for Fortress of Solitude and The Direct. He also contributes to MyFaith Magazine.
Jarrod watches over 500 films a year. Outside of work, he collects sneakers — over 100 pairs and counting — and serves as an ordained deacon at his local church.
Expertise: Entertainment journalism · Film criticism · Video game reviews · Filmmaking · Sound engineering
Writing since: 2007
Also published at: The Direct · Nicki Swift · Showmax · Thought Catalog · MyFaith Magazine
IMDb: imdb.com/name/nm5875579
Muck Rack: muckrack.com/jarrod-saunders-4
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