No Time to Die star Daniel Craig shared his thoughts on the notion of a woman playing the next incarnation of Agent 007, James Bond.
"The answer to that is very simple," Craig told Radio Times when asked about a woman playing Bond. "There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?"
In July 2019, it was reported that Captain Marvel star Lashana Lynch would replace Craig as 007, and producer Barbara Broccoli similarly indicated that the next Bond could be a female or a person of color. In November 2020, Lynch commented on the matter, saying, "I am one Black woman -- if it were another Black woman cast in the role, it would have been the same conversation, she would have got the same attacks, the same abuse. I just have to remind myself that the conversation is happening and that I’m a part of something that will be very, very revolutionary."
No Time to Die is Craig's fifth and final Bond movie. Many names have been floated around for Craig's possible replacement, including the aforementioned Lynch, as well as Idris Elba. In fact, even former 007 Pierce Brosnan admitted he's in Elba's corner. "Idris Elba comes to mind. Idris is such a powerful presence and such a great former voice tensity. He would be magnificent," Brosnan said in July. "There's Tom Hardy out there as well. Tom can really chew the furniture up, just be a ball boy -- both men can." Brosnan did add that he had no inside knowledge on who might be chosen for the role. "But your guess is as good as mine, who's going to be the next Bond. There's no other franchise like it. Nothing."
As for who Craig would pick to fill his shoes, the actor offered a simple piece of advice in October 2020: "Don't fuck it up. It's a beautiful, beautiful, amazing thing. Leave it better than when you found it."
Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, No Time to Die arrives in theaters Oct. 8.
Source: Radio Times