The internet is having a meltdown over the rumors that Lashana Lynch has been cast as “the new 007” in Bond 25. Not as James Bond, but as a new character at MI6 who takes Bond’s 007 designation. However, I’m not ready to fall on my sword over this yet. At this point, they’re just rumors, and once you dig a little deeper (as in, read beyond the headlines), you find a little context.
The rumors, if they’re even true, suggest that Bond is retired when the film begins. In the meantime, Lynch’s character has been given the 007 designation. Then, of course, there’s a major crisis (which only Bond can handle). Bond then unretires, and I assume reclaims his designation (I imagine he won’t be happy it’s been given to a woman). He then does battle with the villain (Blofeld?), and saves the world once again. At least that’s roughly how it should go.
If this is how the story plays out, it’s great. It gets people talking about the film before it comes out, and introduces a new 00 agent character into the James Bond universe, which we haven’t seen since Alec Trevelyan as 006 in GoldenEye.
However, if this is not how it plays out, and they try to pull a Ghostbusters, and cast a woman permanently into the 007 role, the James Bond series as we know it is finished. You will see a fan revolt of The Last Jedi proportions, maybe bigger. It will not end well for anyone.
There are a lot of spy films out there, but there is only one James Bond. James Bond fans go to see James Bond films to see the titular character. The one created by Ian Fleming that he wrote about in his novels. James Bond’s character is a strong, authentically British male. Not a female.
I don’t have a problem with Bond retiring, and having a woman take his designation while he’s gone. Even give her another 00 designation after he comes back. Just as long as at the end of the film, and going into the next film with a new actor playing the role, James Bond is 007.
Bond is 007. 007 is Bond. Period. There is no substitute.
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