James Bond ‘could be a WOMAN in the future’ says 007 producer Barbara Broccoli
JAMES BOND producer Barbara Broccoli has said that 007 could be black or a woman in the future.
Sir Ian McKellan says he wants to see a gay James Bond
Yesterday saw Jodie Whittaker cast as The 13th Doctor, the first woman ever to play the lead in Doctor Who.
But what about James Bond? A similar franchise – both have been around over 50 years, have seen their lead played by multiple actors and have evolved with the times.
Of course The Doctor is a Gallifreyan, part of a time travelling alien species who can regenerate into different bodies and swap genders.
But could Bond be a woman, going through a similar reboot to Doctor Who or the all-female Ghostbusters last year?
James Bond ‘could be a WOMAN in the future’ says 007 producer Barbara Broccoli
In a recently unearthed interview from 2015 – just before the release of the latest James Bond film Spectre – 007 producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson were asked if the iconic spy could be black or a woman in the future.
Speaking with GQ, Broccoli replied: “It's like Hamlet, who has been played by a variety of different people, including women. So presumably Bond could be.
“But do I want to be making a Bond film without Daniel Craig? No, absolutely not!
“He's so integral to the whole process that I'm in denial about anyone else playing Bond. Genuinely.”
Last month Idris Elba became odds on to be the next Bond, after Broccoli backed a plan to improve diversity in the British film industry, which Sir Ian McKellen said 007 should be gay.
Jodie Whittaker will become the first female Doctor Who this Christmas, replacing Peter Capaldi
Gillian Anderson has previously said she'd like to play James Bond after fans made this poster
The latest rumour is that Daniel Craig has signed on for a fifth James Bond outing
Of course the latest rumour is that Daniel Craig has signed on for a fifth outing, so it may be some years yet before Bond changes race or even gender.
Fellow Bond producer Wilson added: “Could Bond be played by a black person or a woman? Bond is a fictitious character who has now become part of the culture. So don't ask it about Bond, ask it about Sherlock Holmes or Superman or Batman.
It's like saying, “If you weren't married to your wife, who would you like to be married to?”
To read the full interview, click here.