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The What if Bond is modernized from a straight white male in the next film adventure?

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  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,491
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    Troy wrote: »
    How can you make a film about a character named Bond if the character being portrayed as different?

    And if modernising means changing, then why go for the traditional black actor, who are the go-to non-White ethnicity despite making up a very small proportion of UK population. How about a bisexual trans woman of Chinese descent? That would enable the sex scenes to be more inclusive.

    Or maybe a Muslim whose parents are from Pakistan? Who doesn’t drink alcohol, who doesn’t believe in sex outside marriage, and opposes nationalism - in particular anti-colonial?

    And the name James Bond is very Anglo Saxon - not really suited to a progressive world view.

    I was wondering if any other fictional characters get this constant scrutiny about changing their ethnicity/gender/sexuality...?

    Or is it just our dear James? And if so, why is that..?

    I do know Doctor Who was scrutinized when changes were made. The Sam version of Captain America existed in the comic books from what I am told. There was still some push back on why not Bucky instead of Sam to carry the mantle.

    As to why Bond? I think because he has strong links to the Queen and Country likely makes him a target for some. This is all theorizing on my part.
  • LeonardPineLeonardPine The Bar on the Beach
    Posts: 4,088
    thedove wrote: »
    LeonardPine wrote: »
    Troy wrote: »
    How can you make a film about a character named Bond if the character being portrayed as different?

    And if modernising means changing, then why go for the traditional black actor, who are the go-to non-White ethnicity despite making up a very small proportion of UK population. How about a bisexual trans woman of Chinese descent? That would enable the sex scenes to be more inclusive.

    Or maybe a Muslim whose parents are from Pakistan? Who doesn’t drink alcohol, who doesn’t believe in sex outside marriage, and opposes nationalism - in particular anti-colonial?

    And the name James Bond is very Anglo Saxon - not really suited to a progressive world view.

    I was wondering if any other fictional characters get this constant scrutiny about changing their ethnicity/gender/sexuality...?

    Or is it just our dear James? And if so, why is that..?

    I do know Doctor Who was scrutinized when changes were made. The Sam version of Captain America existed in the comic books from what I am told. There was still some push back on why not Bucky instead of Sam to carry the mantle.

    As to why Bond? I think because he has strong links to the Queen and Country likely makes him a target for some. This is all theorizing on my part.

    Theorise away @thedove it's always intrigued me why Bond gets this treatment.

    I'm pretty protective of the character, so all this nonsense from the mainstream media gets pretty predictable and tedious...
  • mtmmtm United Kingdom
    Posts: 16,624
    CrabKey wrote: »
    What value is added to the series? If Bond's race is changed, will non-whites now flock to a Bond film whereas they didn't before? Have gay men not been seeing Bond films because Bond is not gay? Why stop there. Perhaps the next Bond could be Muslim. Is the purpose of a film these days to appease those who feel aggrieved?

    Changes to supporting characters have worked successfully. I vey much like Whitshaw and Harris, but Bond. Why?

    You get a good actor who's good at playing the role, and not ruling out anyone because of something arbitrary. No change involved.
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    I'm with @CrabKey on this. Too often I've heard people ask "Why not?" The real question, however, ought to be "Why?" What could possibly be the added value of any significant change to Bond? Is there anything wrong, outdated, or impossible to connect with when it comes to Bond as he is? Have we exhausted the "formula"? It's one thing to give Bond blonde hair; it's another thing to change his DNA. I'm not here to instigate a culture war, merely to search for the real motives behind suggesting that Bond become a different person.

    All of the 007 actors have had different DNA so far. Sounds glib but it's not.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,393
    CrabKey wrote: »
    For me all this talk is nonsense. It keeps the name Bond out there. But if it is a real consideration, why? Does Bond's change of race or sexual orientation occur without explanation. Might someone ask, "Didn't he used to white?" Yes, but this is a Bond in a different timeline. "In other words, he's not the same Bond. He's just a new bloke with Bond's name!"

    What value is added to the series? If Bond's race is changed, will non-whites now flock to a Bond film whereas they didn't before? Have gay men not been seeing Bond films because Bond is not gay? Why stop there. Perhaps the next Bond could be Muslim. Is the purpose of a film these days to appease those who feel aggrieved?

    Changes to supporting characters have worked successfully. I vey much like Whitshaw and Harris, but Bond. Why?

    Whishaw proves the point. He probably *was* the best actor for the role, regardless of his sexuality.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,236
    I'm not really sure the question in the headline is appropriately phrased, to be honest - unless straight white males are an inherently unmodern concept.
  • thedovethedove hiding in the Greek underworld
    Posts: 5,491
    Yes @CraigMooreOHMSS I took the wording out of the article in Variety. I hope this doesn't sour you from contributing.
  • CraigMooreOHMSSCraigMooreOHMSS Dublin, Ireland
    Posts: 8,236
    thedove wrote: »
    Yes @CraigMooreOHMSS I took the wording out of the article in Variety. I hope this doesn't sour you from contributing.

    Ah fair enough. I'm not too fragile about it! And I see similar ground has already been covered, regardless. Mea culpa.
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