By Bond 25 is looking to be quite the shakeup for the long-running franchise. According to multiple sources, Lashana Lynch (known for her role in this year’s Captain Marvel) will be starring as 007 for the next James Bond entry. This will mark the first time the character will be portrayed by a woman, not to mention a minority. Not a complete reboot, Daniel Craig will still be present in the film as a retired version of his character from the last four films.
According to these same sources, the plot of the unnamed film is set to be Lynch taking up the mantle as 007 and tracking down Craig’s 007. Lynch will be tasked with dragging Craig out of retirement for a final mission, which will likely end with him officially stepping down from the role. Speaking to The Daily Mail, an insider source said, “There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M [played by Ralph Fiennes] says, ‘Come in 007,’ and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman. It’s a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond but he’s been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman.”
Explaining further, the source said, “Bond, of course, is sexually attracted to the new female 007 and tries his usual seduction tricks, but is baffled when they don’t work on a brilliant, young black woman who basically rolls her eyes at him and has no interest in jumping into his bed. Well, certainly not at the beginning.” The source added that the phrase “Bond girls” is also forbidden on set, with the studio referring to the characters as “Bond Women.”
Bond 25 is set to be written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. In a statement given to The Daily Mail, Waller-Bridge said, “There’s been a lot of talk about whether or not Bond is relevant now because of who he is and the way he treats women. I think that’s bollocks. I think he’s absolutely relevant now. [The franchise] has just got to grow. It has just got to evolve, and the important thing is that the film treats the women properly. He doesn’t have to. He needs to be true to his character.”
I’m not exactly sure changing the role to a woman is what the series needs to keep it relevant, but at least there seems to be a clear vision for what Bond 25 will be now. I’m all for a proper passing of the torch as previous Bond films before Craig’s tenure as the character have casually tried to pass off the change in actors. It’d be nice to get some acknowledge that the 007 position is a number instead of a single character.
Still, with all of the troubled development and screenwriter changes, I’m not sure Bond 25 is going to end up that great. We’ll just have to wait and see, but I do hope that Lynch knocks it out of the park. Being the first woman as 007 could be a tremendous opportunity for her career.
Report: Lashana Lynch Cast as First Ever Black and Female 007 in Upcoming ‘Bond‘ Film [Okayplayer]
