[Film] Bond's number is up: black female actor 'is the new 007'

[Gritt23]

Does anybody care enough to be a bellend about it, let alone a precious one?

Doubt it, although any criticism about the decision would probably be greeted with calls of bellend, as I'm probably about to demonstrate.

Care enough? No, not really. Like anything, you see a trailer, you see the casting and decide whether you fancy watching the film. I don't think it will be a move that makes me want to see a Bond film purely because they are "taking a different turn" and my initial feeling is the casting is a bit "right on" rather than making the best choice to portray the character.

I'm a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to films or characters I know. For example, I didn't get drawn to watching the new Annie, when the story for me is that is a funny looking ginger (I can say that, as a blessed ginger myself) with big curly hair. The "why would anyone choose me" aspect was key to the story for me, so how does that work with a really cute little black girl? Story doesn't work so well for me.

 

[thejackal]

Indeed and like Moores films got progressively worse.

However Brosnan was the producers choice BEFORE Dalton and another series of Remington Steele was commissioned so he had fulfil his obligation.

I had forgotten about Timothy Dalton. My god, there have been some awful Bonds over the years!

 

[BBassic]

Interesting and valid points raised on both sides of the argument here.

For me it doesn’t bother me per se, the film makers ran out of original material from Fleming yonks ago so this change in direction is valid from a creativity perspective but whether it remains sensible from a commercial perspective is yet to be seen.

I expect even if it was an excellent film with a plot that ends with JB back in the double 0 status having fallen for the female 007 who heroically dies having taken his heart a la Vespa Lynd then people would on principle not go and see it.

If however it’s a steaming pile of hotspur a la Ghostbusters then it’ll do irrevocable damage to the brand.

The general excitement for Ghostbusters 3 and the sheer amount of new Ghostbusters merchandise being released would suggest the 2016 film didn't do irrevocable damage to that brand.

It was pretty shit though. Can't argue there.

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

I had forgotten about Timothy Dalton. My god, there have been some awful Bonds over the years!

I liked Dalton. But then again he had much better films and stories to act in than Brosnan (in my opinion).

 

[dingodan]

Another fully able bodied person in the 35 - 55 age range no doubt.

F*cking disgrace.

 

[Tom Hark Preston Park]

I have to be honest, having someone "take over" the 007 number as opposed to replacing the Bond character is a genius move. Gets you away from the nightmare of those who refuse to entertain anything other than a white, male, English, Scottish, Irish or Australian actor and those who think otherwise fighting until the end of time.

It basically means they can cast who they want as 007 and change the format as times change.

This. Ensures the franchise money machine trundles along for a bit longer, scooping up large numbers of lazy weekend movie-goers in its path.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Bloody hell, that's my user name screwed.

Only if the new Doris is called James Bond. Which would be a bit weird...

 

[thejackal]

I liked Dalton. But then again he had much better films and stories to act in than Brosnan (in my opinion).

Fair point. Dalton was no doubt better than Brosnan. Like most, I prefer the first Bonds that I first saw, and those from my youth, so it's Connery and Moore for me.

 

[Brovion]

Fair point. Dalton was no doubt better than Brosnan. Like most, I prefer the first Bonds that I first saw, and those from my youth, so it's Connery and Moore for me.

Weirdly my favourite Bond is Daniel Craig (and I'm 62). Agree that Dalton and Brosnan were shit though.

O/T - And my favourite Dr Who is Christopher Eccleston

 

[thejackal]

Weirdly my favourite Bond is Daniel Craig (and I'm 62). Agree that Dalton and Brosnan were shit though.

O/T - And my favourite Dr Who is Christopher Eccleston

I liked Craig in the role too. I think he played a very creditable Bond, in the grittier mould, more like the character in the books.

I love that line in Casino Royale where he loses a million quid at the poker table, goes to the bar and the barman asks if he wants his martini shaken or stirred:

"Do I look like I give a damn?"


I don't really have a view on Dr Who because I stopped watching it in 1982 when Peter Davison took over

 

[portlock seagull]

Who says they are messing with it? Essentially, the number has moved to a different character after Bond retired. Unsurprisingly, it's the usual batch of (mostly) men getting furious over a minor change when WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE STORY OF THE FILM IS YET!

Then the clickbait worked and I won’t be happy until a middle aged white upper class toff is cast as Martin Luther King telling the story of civil rights movement

 

[blue-shifted]

My thoughts on the thread so far

Having a female 007 = Could be a good idea if they handle it well. Don't want Bond to be politically correct about it though or the new 007 to effectively become an all action Bond girl
Brosnan = Goldeneye is one of the greats and Brosnan looked good as Bond. Some appalling writing and plots in the others did for his reputation.
Dalton = Moody. I liked his portrayal. One excellent film, the Living Daylights and one dire one, Licence to Kill

 

[Arthritic Toe]

If she is a black, gay and disabled Bond then I’m with it.

She'd be snapped up as a Match of the Day pundit, before she ever got near a bond film.

 

[Eeyore]

This is my point there are PLENTY of female kick ass spy films out there. James Bond copies if you like. Therefore 007 does not need to be female.

Yes. But it really, really doesn't matter.

James Bond is still the white, Etonian original.

He was never Scottish or Australian but that changed. As I said, the author was going to kill him off anyway. It's gone in a new direction after all these years.

 

[Albion Prem]

Eh? His character is James Bond 007! So if his character leaves MI6, then how can she be the next 007? Unless it means the actor is leaving , which we all know...BUT. 007 has always been a man...ok a man with different faces, but they are all one character.....a woman wouldn’t be right would it!

The writer must be turning in his grave

 

[Barham's tash]

The general excitement for Ghostbusters 3 and the sheer amount of new Ghostbusters merchandise being released would suggest the 2016 film didn't do irrevocable damage to that brand.

It was pretty shit though. Can't argue there.

I think I recall reading that the stink the all female one created left the rights owners for the original seething and wanting to add a counterpoint but yeah it is different.

 

[Brovion]

Yes. But it really, really doesn't matter.

James Bond is still the white, Etonian original.

He was never Scottish or Australian but that changed. As I said, the author was going to kill him off anyway. It's gone in a new direction after all these years.

He was only at Eton for two terms, then he was expelled for 'girl trouble'. Most of his education was at Fettes where his father was educated. And he wasn't English. His father was Scottish and his mother Swiss. (Bond's bio information was in Fleming novel 'You Only Live Twice')

 

[Wellesley]

In the interests of feminism I think it's only right that in this day and age we have a female 007. Hope she has MASSIVE tits though.

 

[Bold Seagull]

The writer must be turning in his grave

Yeah really, that 56 years after his death, we are still making Bond films and still exploring the character in the modern age. What a nightmare for him in his afterlife.

 

[Acker79]

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More info:
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/bond-25-title-confirmed-as-no-time-to-die/

“In No Time To Die, Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.”