For over fifty years, James Bond has been a white dude, and across those decades, the franchise has been successful, even if somewhat creatively rigid. The current films led by Daniel Craig have brought a more contemporary, serious feeling with added grit and drama, to mixed results (“Casino Royale” and “Skyfall” yay, ” “Quantum Of Solace” and “Spectre” nay). But one thing that has never changed are fans drawing up their own wishlist of who should get that license to kill. Well, you might need to reconfigure those dreams.
Even though we don’t know who is directing the next Bond movie, due in 2019, and supposedly Craig’s time out as the secret agent, the Daily Mail has gone ahead and asked producer Barbara Broccoli if a woman or person of color could eventually take on the iconic role.
“These films tend to reflect the times so we always try to push the envelope a little bit,” she said. “Anything is possible. Right now it’s Daniel Craig, and I’m very happy with Daniel Craig, but who knows what the future will bring?”
Childhood ruined! Legacies destroyed! Sorry, just getting ahead of those who will inevitably complain that something that has been the same for over half a century gets changed. So, maybe stop dreaming about Tom Hardy as 007, but continue praying for Idris Elba? Or whatever. More than likely the next Bond will be neither of those dudes, but let’s be honest, it’s way too early to start talking about that.
The next Bond opens on November 8, 2019.
I hope they don’t Jinx it!
bitch better be happy with Daniel Craig.Wtf-a Bond with a vagina is beyond stupid.what skank would they get some bitch like that Daisey Ridley? yuck.Fuck that-just Keep Daniel Craig
I’ll believe it when I see it. I guess a lot will depend on the next season of Doctor Who and what the reaction to it is.
Broccoli is patronizing people like Kevin Jagernauth. Of course, a male actor of color could play the role. That shouldn’t even be an argument. There are only three requirements for the character and they have nothing to do with race: he’s British, he can embody a “power fantasy” for men around the world and he’s a sex symbol for women or men. That’s it. You just need to embody those qualities because that’s the appeal of the character. You don’t even need to know how to act, as George’s performance in the role proves.
It’s also totally different to the Doctor Who casting. The British performer playing Doctor isn’t a sex symbol: he or she needs to embody courage, curiosity and kindness. The appeal of the character is that – despite the challenges, difficulties and setbacks that he or she may face – The Doctor never loses his or her kindness or curiosity (which is more courageous than anything else), qualities that are not intrinsically masculine or feminine or white or blue or whatever.
Anyone that says The Doctor needs to be a man or that James Bond needs to be white is a moron. Equally, anyone that suggests that James Bond could be a woman just doesn’t understand the appeal of the character.