James Bond Executive Producer Says 007 Will Never Be A Woman

Don’t expect the makers of 007 to pull an Ocean’s 11 stunt and someday introduce James Bond’s sister Jane Bond and the Bond “guy” Dick Matized. When Daniel Craig originally said he’d rather slit his wrists than play James Bond again (how upbeat!), a lot of people thought it was time to shake things up and bring in someone who would be different (and actually want the job). There was chatter of Idris Elba to heap giant piles of sexy onto the role, and some even said it was time to give the role to a woman. Sticks in the mud freaked the F over the idea of a black or a lady Bond. Barbara Broccoli, the executive producer of the franchise, has weighed in saying Dame Judi Dench will be the closest a woman gets her paws on the title of Bond.

The Guardian sat down with Barbara to talk about all the Bond developments, and she has ruled out entirely the idea of James Bond being gender fluid:

“Bond is male. He’s a male character. He was written as a male and I think he’ll probably stay as a male. And that’s fine. We don’t have to turn male characters into women. Let’s just create more female characters and make the story fit those female characters.”

Barbara says we may someday see a time when the franchise gets a female director, but she points out Hollywood should do a better job of just coming up with more badass female-leading film franchises. I mean, I’ve always said 00Cher would be a great movie, but nobody seems to be working on that!

Barbara is known for being one of the most powerful women in Tinseltown and green lights every hire relating to the Bond franchise. She’s who got Daniel to sign on for another film, and while it might be easy to say she’s not helping change the idea of women in a powerful vehicle like 007, she’s done a helluva lot to help women in film — even before #metoo was a thing.

Rosamund Pike described the set of Die Another Day as being way ahead of its time with the treatment of women thanks to Barbara, and it’s not like the mega-producer isn’t working with women. In fact, the 25th Bond movie will be the first time in a while Barbara hasn’t worked with a female director. Still, she sees a lot of progress in how the Bond films are today vs. the OG movies:

“But look at the way the world has changed. And I think Bond has come through and transformed with the times. I’ve tried to do my part, and I think particularly with the Daniel [Craig] films, they’ve become much more current in terms of the way women are viewed.”

This is all fine and good, but you know Sarah Jessica Parker, Kristin Davis, and Cynthia Nixon are pissed. Carrie Bradshaw ordering a cosmo shaken not stirred before fighting crime was going to be their Hail Mary attempt at Sex And The City 3!

Pic: Wenn.com