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James Bond:who is Dusko Popov, the real spy who would have inspired the work of Ian Fleming?

Dying Can Wait , the latest opus in the James Bond saga will be released in theaters this Wednesday, October 6. Ian Fleming, the creator of the original work, would have been inspired by a real Serbian spy to make his classic, Dusko Popov.

James Bond is now part of popular culture. Even if you don't know the dozens of films, everyone has already heard of the number 007.

While popularized by Hollywood films, the original work is the creation of Ian Fleming, a 20th century British novelist. The latter would have been inspired by a real secret agent, Dusko Popov, for his spy story, which has now become a classic.

Dusko Popov, the real spy behind James Bond

No Time To Die comes out this Wednesday, October 6 in theaters. It is one of the most expensive James Bonds in history. But had Ian Fleming imagined the success that his seminal work James Bond would meet? Probably not. Made popular thanks to Hollywood cinema and with cult actors such as Roger Moore, Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan or with Daniel Craig, who with Die Can Wait, will put on the costume of the famous secret agent for the last time. But where did the novelist draw inspiration for his work?

A certain Dusko Popov could be the key. This is a real secret agent of the XXᵉ century. With the difference that, unlike James Bond, he was not British but Serbian. He was a triple agent and operated for the German, English and Serbian secret services as well. His nickname ? "Tricycle".

A scene from Casino Royale in real life

All fans of James Bond remember the famous poker scene in Casino Royal where Daniel Craig faces The Number , brilliantly performed Mads Mikkelsen. This is a cover, almost faithful, to a meeting between Ian Fleming and Dusko Popov. You should know that in the 1940s, the novelist worked as an officer in the counterintelligence service for Naval Intelligence. The two men meet in Estéril, Portugal, in a casino. The Serbian spy then presents himself as a charmer, a seducer who loves fine cars.

Lover of cocktails, he will present himself as a businessman who has officiated in import-export, as reported by our colleagues from RTL. The goal of the evening was to look like a big spender. Fleming then sees Popov settle down at a baccarat table, a card game which resembles the game of chemin de fer, which is very popular in casinos. A real show is then delivered by the Serb, which will be restored in its entirety in the work Casino Royale of the British novelist.

France Info, however, reveals a notable difference between our favorite secret agent and Dusko Popov. Unlike Daniel Craig or Pierce Brosnan, the Serbian spy never carried a weapon.

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