‘Bond 25’ Introduces a New 007, Played by Lashana Lynch
Fans hoping for some new blood as 007 may have gotten their wish from the still-untitled Bond 25, even though Daniel Craig is returning as James Bond for another adventure as Ian Fleming’s gentleman spy. According to The Daily Mail, while Craig’s Bond is back, he is not playing 007.
Instead, a new character played by Lashana Lynch has replaced James Bond as MI6’s Agent 007. Bond is retired when Bond 25 begins, before he’s called back into action to help with a new situation. In the interim, Lynch’s character has apparently been promoted to 007.
Here’s how the Mail’s source describes the big scene that reveals the new status quo:
There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says ‘Come in 007,’ and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman. It's a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond but he's been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman. Bond, of course, is sexually attracted to the new female 007 and tries his usual seduction tricks, but is baffled when they don't work on a brilliant, young black woman who basically rolls her eyes at him and has no interest in jumping into his bed. Well, certainly not at the beginning.
“Certainly not at the beginning.” It’s still a Bond film, ladies and gentlemen. (Although the Mail piece also notes that the phrase “Bond girl” has been “forbidden” on the production. Instead, the actresses in the film — which also include Ana de Armas, and the returning Naomie Harris as Moneypenny, and Lea Seydoux as Madeleine Swann — are now “Bond women.”)
Lynch was very good in Captain Marvel, and a friendly rivalry between her and Craig’s Bond sounds like a lot of fun. As for the future of 007 — both 007s now — after Bond 25, that will be very interesting to watch. Bond 25 opens in theaters on April 8, 2020.
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