Summary
The future ofJames Bondis currently uncertain due to all the backstage chaos, with fans being left disappointed that the franchise still hasn’t recast the iconic role after Daniel Craig stepped down as the 007 agent. Considering how popular theJames Bondfranchise is, most people thought that the turnaround would be much quicker.
However, the lengthy break could lead to more ideas being created for theJames Bondfranchise, which could lead to a very different movie the next time out. However, one person audiences shouldn’t expect to see in a futureJames Bondfilm is Helen Mirren, who has recently made her thoughts on spy movies very clear.
Helen Mirren Doesn’t Like James Bond Movies
James Bondis a unique franchise, which is why it has stood out all on its own within the action and thriller genres. Bond, as a character, is often seen as an action hero who takes no prisoners and can handle any situation regardless of what’s happening. Whether it be hand-to-hand combat, driving, or shooting guns, there’s nothing that Bond can’t do. Over the years, that has also extended to his dating life too. The British spy has never had a problem with the opposite sex, but that has often led to the female characters in these movies not being well represented. That’s something that Mirren has taken issue with, as the iconic actress toldThe Standard.
“I never liked James Bond. I never liked the way women were in James Bond,” she said, adding that she doesn’t want to see a woman portray the fictional spy. I would tell real stories about extraordinary women who’ve worked in that world," she added, “amazingly, unbelievably courageous” women who were part of the French Resistance.
Of course, with a new Bond to be cast, there will be people pushing for a female actor to take on the role for the first time, but that’s something that’s unlikely to happen due to how iconic the classic role is. However, that doesn’t mean that Mirren is wrong in her assessment of wanting to see more female empowermentwithin theJames Bondfranchise. As she rightly points out, there are many great females who have legitimately worked in that world. Therefore, it isn’t a big stretch to cast someone like that in a movie.
James Bond Is Unlikely To Change As A Person
When it comes to the character of James Bond, it is unlikely there will ever be much change to his overall presentation. Bond is always going to be a character who looks for romance and then spends the rest of the movie looking to take down the villain of the story. That’s something that has worked and made him such an iconic character. However, there is room for things to be turned down when it comes to how he treats women. Rather than just sleeping with people without consequence, finding Bond in a meaningful relationship would be more beneficial.Daniel Craig’s run started to showcase that changeas there were several notable relationships, and it benefited the overall story as people had a reason to connect to the characters involved on a deeper level.
James Bond’s Future Movies Should Change Female Representation
While it’s unlikely that anyone is going to alter the way that Bond is typically presented, being someone who has lots of charm, as the romantic relationships he has often add a lot to the story. But that doesn’t mean women must be showcased in the traditional ‘Bond girl’ sense.No Time to Dietook a stepin that direction, withLashana Lynch’s character of Nomi being someone who ended up taking on the 007 code name, showcasing her own skills. Meanwhile, Ana de Armas played a CIA agent, and Lea Seydoux was a French psychiatrist. These are all far more powerful roles than women have traditionally been handed in previous Bond movies and is a step in the right direction for where the franchise can go in the future.
Having more powerful female characters will also seeJames Bondmove with the times as the world empowers women in a much stronger way than in the past, andHollywood needs to reflect that. Not every female character in the films has to be a romantic partner or love interest for Bond. Instead, they could simply be seen on his level as a villain, or perhaps even be a higher rank than him as a spy, which would completely flip the dynamic on how Bond usually sees and treats women. This is the direction thatJames Bondcan move in, and if it takes powerful actors such as Mirren calling out the franchise, then that can only be seen as a good thing. People loveJames Bondmovies, but eradicating one of the big weaknesses and turning it into something that strengthens the film in the future cannot be a bad thing.
