This week, Lashana Lynch confirmed rumours that her character Nomi would be given the iconic 007 title in the next James Bond movie, No Time to Die. This makes her the first-ever Black female to have this title.
Lynch will not be taking the role of Bond, but his famous double ‘0’ signature. In spite of the backlash from a small minority of fans who only see white males taking the role of ‘007’, giving a woman of colour this iconic title places the film with the changing times. The characters on-screen better reflect the diverse world we live in.
“A character that is too slick, a cast-iron figure? That’s completely against what I stand for. I didn’t want to waste an opportunity when it came to what Nomi might represent,” Lynch explained.
She went on to elaborate that she wanted her portrayal of a Black 007 to be authentic and a reflection of reality.
“I searched for at least one moment in the script where Black audience members would nod their heads, tutting at the reality but glad to see their real-life represented.”
Lynch certainly got a taste of the bitterness of real life as the possibility of a Black 007 was leaked earlier in the year, leaving her inundated with negative comments forcing her to delete social media for a week.
“I just have to remind myself that the conversation is happening and that I’m part of something that will be very, very revolutionary,’ Lynch commented.
According to leaked plot details from the long-awaited No Time to Die film, Lynch’s character, Nomi, takes the 007 title while Bond is exiled in Jamaica.
Basic James Bond lore shows us that anyone can be 007. In Flemming’s book, there are only five double ‘0’ special agent operatives of MI6 with the discretionary ‘license to kill’: 006, 007, 008, 009, and 0011. Two were named, including Bond and ‘a guy named Bill’ as 008 in Moonraker.
These double ‘0’ titles have been further explored in subsequent no-Flemming books and film adaptions. Here, it is clear that these agents are not exclusively male. Sebastian Faulk’s 2008 Bond novel, Devil May Care, details Scarlett Papava as the new 004.
However, the next Bond to take the stage after No Time to Die, Daniel Craig’s last movie, is yet to be announced.
Ongoing rumours surrounding Harry Styles, Idris Elba, Tom Hardy, and Henry Cavill have circulated, yet producers confirmed last month they are still yet to find the next Bond.
“I always say: you can only be in love with one person at a time. Once the film’s come out, then some time will pass, and then we’ll have to get on to the business of the future. But for now, we just cannot think about anything beyond Daniel,” producer Barbara Broccoli explained.
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