James Bond’s New 007 Is A Black Woman, Stepping In For Daniel Craig
Lashana Lynch will be taking over James Bond's super spy title.
This article is more than 2 years old
James Bond has had an incredible run for nearly 70 years as the premier secret agent in all of popular fiction. His codename of 007 has become an easily recognized calling card for the super spy. And now, it looks like he is about to lose that title in the newest entry in the franchise, No Time to Die.
In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, actress Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel) confirmed that her character in No Time to Die, Nomi, will be taking over the title of 007 from James Bond. The story of this recent run of Bond films – Casino Royale, Quantum of Solace, Skyfall, and Spectre – has currently ended with James Bond abandoning his super-spy duties and in retirement. In this absence, it looks like his 007 title has been given to a new secret agent.
Honestly, this makes all the sense in the world. In the world of James Bond, the “double O” title is given to a select group of top-tier secret agents who have two confirmed kills on their record. With Bond abandoning his position after the events in Spectre, the 007 moniker would be up for grabs for a new excellent agent. It sounds like Lashana Lynch’s Nomi is the one who was talented enough to take on the role.
It sounds like Nomi claiming James Bond’s 007 name will be some point of contention between the two characters. The trailers have had moments where the two seem to be challenging each other. It is going to be great seeing Daniel Craig and Lashana Lynch clash as professionals in this new movie. And it will be interesting to see if Lashana Lynch will not only keep the 007 title but if the character of Nomi will also carry over into the next James Bond film.
The character of James Bond has gone through a number of permutations over his nearly 70 years in film, novels, and other media. However, he has always been the holder of the 007 name. Giving it to a new agent showcases a small but crucial step forward in the franchise’s outlook. Making a Black woman the new 007 is a bold move that will likely stir up some conversation – some in bad faith – about how the future of the series could be handled.
Regardless of what happens, it is very cool to see Lashana Lynch take over the 007 title from James Bond. It is a great piece of writing that immediately causes us to recontextualize Bond and his place in the modern world. And it adds a level of conflict to the character dynamics that feels fresh and exciting. More than the mysterious villain played by Rami Malek or what will happen to Daniel Craig, this might be the most intriguing facet of No Time to Die.
After a number of delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the newest James Bond film is now scheduled to open in theaters on April 2, 2021. We will have to wait until then to see what Lashana Lynch brings to the famous 007 name.
