Actress Lashana Lynch will take on the iconic spy role of 007 in Bond 25, according to reports.
Not really; the click bait headline tricks you into learning she’s just been given his code name after James Bond has “retired”.
Putting aside the ridiculous journalistic contortions required to rely on “reports” as a source of news, and who the hell is Lashana Lynch anyway… who cares?
But seriously, who gives a stuff whether Bond is played by a man, woman, Indian, Eskimo or African? It’s a fictional character in a film, a make believe story with people pretending to be someone they aren’t.
If people watch the movie and judge it to be fun and/or credible, they’ll tell other people who will then pay money to watch it. If it stinks, everyone who sees it will loudly say so at every opportunity.
Unlike, say the appointment of a diversity hire CEO of bank, movies have quite a rapid feedback mechanism. The studio accountants will know within weeks of the premiere whether or not a break from the standard formula has worked with the ticket-buying public.
Bill’s Opinion
The next James Bond could be played by a wheelchair-bound gay Native American amputee with a pet squirrel for all I care.
James Bond is not some sacred religious figure who can only be played by a macho white English alpha male. If fact, Daniel Craig is only the 2nd Englishman to have played the part (3rd if you count the David Niven spoof).
If a Bond movie with a non “traditional” actor gets good reviews from sources I trust, I’ll pay to see it. If it gets Ghostbuster-esque reviews (Guardian – 4 stars vs everyone else who doesn’t write for a Woke media outlet – very few stars) I won’t.
Ghostbusters could only reach 22nd place on a list of 2016 films by revenue, by the way.
James Bond is the Master of the Quip.
The wryly raised eyebrow as he shakes (not stirs) a martini while the enemy agents reclines langerously on the sofa, etc.
Anything else ain’t James Bond.
Not even Daniel “I won’t ever use guns in a movie role” Craig.