Over the weekend a Bond source revealed that Lashana Lynch’s character Nomi is the new 007. An insider told the Daily Mail: “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.” So does this mean that Lynch is the new James Bond? No, she’s the new 007. In the closing scene of Spectre, Bond quit MI6 and drove off into the sunset with Madeleine Swann.
The official synopsis for follow-up Bond 25 reveals that Daniel Craig’s spy is now retired and living in Jamaica.
He’s still James Bond, but he’s no longer 007. He’s quit his Licence to Kill status meaning that another agent can inherit it.
It’s no different from someone leaving a job and someone else taking on that job title.
If anything, this narrative move is very clever by the Bond producers and screenwriters as it keeps both sides of the debate on updating the franchise happy.
As promised by Barbara Broccoli, Ian Fleming’s James Bond will always be played by a man – as wanted by some fans.
While casting Lynch as the new 007 will please other fans who are in favour of a woman taking on such a role.
Plus Nomi is no Bond girl, she’s equal in status and ability to that of Bond himself. But what does this move mean for Bond 25 and the future of the 007 franchise?
Well, in Bond 25 this could mean there are two 007s, Nomi dies and Bond takes back his Double-O status or Bond’s character arc is about him apart from his 007 identity.
Beyond Craig’s final outing, there’s the question of Bond 26 and rebooting the franchise as usual.
There have been rumours over the last few years of a Bond cinematic universe, so Nomi as 007 could be a spin-off there.
But it’s very unlikely she would be “the new Bond” as already established. When Bond 26 comes around no doubt there will be a new male actor in the role as James Bond 007, but perhaps a while after a Nomi 007 spin-off.
Let’s just hope EON productions will make things clearer in the coming months.
Bond 25 is released in UK cinemas on April 3, 2020.