At the recent London premiere of ‘Bob Marley: One Love,’ Lashana Lynch spoke to Entertainment Tonight and voiced her concerns about the readiness of fans for a female James Bond lead.
‘No Time to Die’ marked Daniel Craig’s final appearance as James Bond. For this reason, there have been discussions about his successor. Among these conversations, Lynch, who was the first woman to take on the 007 code name in the franchise’s history, questioned whether the James Bond fanbase is prepared for a female-led movie, saying:
“Do you think people really want that? Do you think people are ready for that? I signed up for one movie. I did one, I literally don’t know anything about the next one. I’ve not had a conversation. So, yeah… It’s in their hands. It’s in the franchise’s hands.”
Lynch portrayed the MI6 agent Nomi in ‘No Time to Die.’ Despite her character’s critical role, which challenged traditional gender roles within the Bond universe, Lynch told ET she has not been approached about reprising her role or stepping into Craig’s shoes as the next lead.
Why Lynch’s Casting Was Important in the James Bond Franchise?
Lynch’s casting as 007 was both historic and controversial, so it wasn’t surprising to see that it sparked debate among fans and critics. Her character was introduced as a new ’00’ agent who was assigned the 007 designation after Bond’s retirement. However, Lynch said that her involvement with the Bond franchise was limited to a single film.
‘No Time to Die‘ not only served as a farewell to Craig’s spy portrayal but also set a high bar for the franchise, grossing over $774 million worldwide. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the film told the story of Bond’s final mission with a mix of traditional espionage action and a fresh narrative perspective.
Spanning over six decades with 25 official movies, The James Bond series now faces a turning point as it considers the future of its leading role. With Craig’s departure, the next actor to carry the 007 mantle will need to face the challenge of stepping into his shoes.
Lynch, meanwhile, is continuing her career with roles in ‘Bob Marley: One Love,’ ‘The Outside Room,‘ and ‘The Day of the Jackal.‘ You can watch ‘One Love’s trailer below.
