For years now fans have been debating on who the next James Bond should be after Daniel Craig steps aside. Many names have popped up including Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender and Idris Elba. Elba, in particular, has become a top choice among many fans over the past couple of years to play the iconic secret agent. However, there are also fans who outright reject that idea, claiming that Bond should only be played by someone who’s white and that casting a non-white James Bond would be nothing more than a political stunt.
Well, I’m certain that fans of the latter camp are not going to be pleased be this bit of rumour/speculation. According to UK tabloid site Daily Mail, the next 007 will be none other than British star Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel), who happens to not just be black, but a black woman. Here’s what’s interesting: Apparently, Lynch will not be playing James Bond or ‘Jane’ Bond, but a new character who takes over Bond’s 007 mantle after he leaves MI6. Lashana Lynch is already part of the currently untitled Bond 25 cast, playing a character named Nomi.
One source told Daily Mail the following:
“There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says ‘Come in 007’, and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman.”
Frankly, I love the idea.
James Bond, much like Ariel from Disney’s The Little Mermaid, is a fictional character without significant ties to a specific ethnicity nor gender (arguable). What’s important to the 007 character culturally speaking is its British roots. And the last time I checked, Lashana Lynch is 100% British. But more than that, if this rumour turns out to be true, I believe the studio and the creatives involved have made a great decision to create a new character who takes on the 007 mantle. It makes sense storywise that over the years, different individuals would take on the 007 number once the previous agent retires. Think of it as Sam Wilson becoming the new Captain America.
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