Renard

Lore & Background

Renard was a KGB agent before becoming an international terrorist working for a criminal organization. Following an earlier attempt on his life by MI6 agent James Bond, he was left with a bullet embedded in his brain, which makes him immune to pain but will eventually kill him. He previously kidnapped Elektra King and held her for ransom, but the ransom was a cover—she was actually his co-conspirator and lover. In the film's plot, Renard removes the GPS locator card and weapons-grade plutonium core from a nuclear warhead at an ex-Soviet ICBM base in Kazakhstan. He steals the bomb and later inserts the stolen plutonium into a nuclear submarine's reactor, planning to cause a meltdown that would destroy Istanbul and sabotage rival pipelines passing through the Bosporus, thereby increasing the value of Elektra's pipeline. Bond ultimately impales Renard by pushing the plutonium rod into his chest after Renard is already fatally wounded aboard the sinking submarine.

In Their Own Story

The bullet in Renard's brain was a death sentence, but it was also a gift. It stripped away pain, fear, hesitation. He had already died once, when MI6 tried to kill him. Now he was just waiting for the bullet to finish its slow crawl through his skull. That gave him the freedom to act without consequence. He took the plutonium from the Kazakh silo, he seized the submarine, and he set the course for Istanbul. The meltdown would be his final act, a fire that would burn away the old world and leave Elektra's pipeline standing alone. He did not expect Bond to follow him into the depths. He did not expect the cold steel of the plutonium rod punching through his chest. But even then, he felt nothing.

Reader's Guide

Renard is the secondary antagonist in *The World Is Not Enough*, a former KGB agent turned terrorist who is immune to pain due to a bullet lodged in his brain. He is played by Robert Carlyle. The role was originally offered to Javier Bardem (who later played the villain in *Skyfall*) and Jean Reno. Renard's scheme involves stealing weapons-grade plutonium from a decommissioned ICBM base in Kazakhstan, then using it to cause a nuclear meltdown in a submarine in Istanbul's Bosporus strait. The goal is to destroy alternative oil pipelines and increase the value of Elektra King's pipeline. Bond confronts Renard aboard the sinking submarine and kills him by firing the plutonium rod into his chest. Renard is not a primary boss fight in the traditional sense; his death comes during the climax as Bond escapes the submarine. The character is notable for his lack of pain sensation, which makes him a physically formidable opponent.

Did You Know?

• The role of Renard was originally offered to Javier Bardem, who would later play the Bond villain in *Skyfall*, and Jean Reno.
• Renard has a bullet lodged in his brain from a failed assassination attempt by MI6 agent James Bond, which makes him immune to pain but will eventually kill him.
• Renard's scheme involves triggering a nuclear meltdown in the Bosporus strait to destroy Istanbul and sabotage rival pipelines, thereby increasing the value of Elektra's pipeline.
• Bond kills Renard by pushing the plutonium rod into his chest after Renard is already fatally wounded aboard a sinking submarine.
• Renard previously kidnapped Elektra King and held her for ransom, but the ransom was a cover—she was actually his co-conspirator and lover.