No Time to Die star Ben Whishaw, who reprises his role as 007's tech expert Q for the film, says the franchise should continue evolving to stay relevant.
“If they want to continue with this character and the franchise, I think you can explode it and do anything,” said Whishaw, speaking on the “Just for Variety” podcast. “I don’t know what that should be, but it seems to me like it should be something quite radical, something really different. It’s got to change; it’s got to keep changing. We’re in different times now.”
As the actor sees it, there are ways for the James Bond movies to mix things up while remaining true to the spirit of the 007 universe. “There will always be people who want it to stick to the way it was whenever ago, and they’re important, because they love these films,” Whishaw noted. “But I think you can do both. You can honor the character and the tradition, and you can push it forward, too. And I think you have to, if it’s not just going to become a kind of museum piece.”
No Time to Die marks the end of Daniel Craig's tenure as James Bond, a role he's played since 2006's Casino Royale. And although the producers behind the Bond movies say the search for Craig's 007 replacement won't begin in earnest until next year, that isn't stopping fans from speculating about the ways the property could change in the future, including casting a woman and/or a person of color as the iconic secret agent.
"The answer to that is very simple," said Craig when asked about a woman playing Bond. "There should simply be better parts for women and actors of color. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?"
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, No Time to Die stars Craig and Whishaw opposite Naomie Harris as Eve Moneypenny, Ralph Fiennes as M, and Rami Malek as a vengeful figure named Lyutsifer Safin. After multiple delays, the film will finally premiere in U.S. theaters on Oct. 8.
Source: Variety