Discuss: Is the World Ready for a Black James Bond?
Filed under: Action, Casting, New Releases, Fandom, Politics, James Bond, Daniel Craig
After the historic election of Barack Obama as the 44th president of the United States, naturally everyone's mind turned to the next logical step: Does this mean a black man could play James Bond, too?At least that's where current Bond Daniel Craig's mind went. At a Rome press conference for Quantum of Solace, which opens in the U.S. on Friday, Craig said, "After Barack Obama's victory I think we might have reached the moment for a [black]* 007. I think the role could easily be played by a black actor, because the character created by Ian Fleming in the '50s has undergone a great deal of evolution and continues to be updated."
He also joked that the idea of a black 007 might have Fleming spinning in his grave. Fleming was considered by many to be racist -- just Google the words Ian Fleming racist to find plenty of people making that assertion -- and the U.K. Telegraph observes that his Bond novels "were laced with the racial prejudices of his era."
Surely there's nothing specific about the Bond character that couldn't just as easily apply to a black actor. There have been a few black Bond Girls romanced by white Bonds. Race doesn't generally play a part in the stories, at least not in the last several films. Then again, some people freaked out when Daniel Craig was cast solely because he was blond (if you can imagine the heresy). Would a complete makeover totally ruin it for the purists? What do you think? And if they did go with a black 007, who should play him?
*The word he actually used was "coloured," which apparently isn't quite as offensive and outdated in Europe as it is in America, as none of the news outlets covering the press conference expressed surprise over Craig's usage of it. He obviously didn't mean it with racist intent, anyway, so let's not dwell on it, mmkay?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
11-09-2008 @ 11:23AM
Michael said...
No. Why does everything have to be poltically correct? Ian Fleming wrote the character as a Cauccasian...why can't it be left at that? A black, yellow, brown, etc... James Bond would not be James Bond.
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11-09-2008 @ 11:42AM
Barbs said...
Not too sure how you could interpret this article as 'being politically correct'. If there was a black James Bond it would not be because it was politically - but (hopefully) because there is a really great black British actor who could do the job.
Having said that.. Black James Bond I can so live with. As long as they never make him American! That would be just plain wrong!!
Just something interesting regarding 'coloured' people. In South Africa there is a coloured population of about 4.2-million people (8.9% of the total South African population). These people are neither black nor white - and have been here since the first settlers arrived. And it is by no stretch of the imagination insulting to call them coloured. http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/population.htm
11-09-2008 @ 2:54PM
Aaron said...
I'm Black and I think the issue is moot since this Bond is prob the best ever.......
11-11-2008 @ 12:22PM
Brianna said...
I totally agree. This isn't a gov't position. Its the movies. Bond is white. And I prefer him as a brunette. Not blond and blue eyed.
11-11-2008 @ 2:18PM
Chris said...
I Totally agree with you, All this PC stuff is bullshit.
Its rediculous to say "IS THE WORLD READY FOR A BLACK JAMES BOND"
What do you mean are they ready? Were black people not capable of being part of the government's special divisions until Obama was elected.
This is crap, Course their "Ready" for it, Would they want it?
No dont be so bloody rediculous thats like asking if the world was ready for a WHITE SHAFT, Yes their ready, but it would be crap.
11-09-2008 @ 11:35AM
RP said...
Frankly, after the mediocrity of Casino Royale, and the ABSOLUTE DROSS of Quantum of Solace, I'd rather they just knock the whole thing on the head.
Although I remember laughing a fair bit at the blatant publicity ploy that had Colin Salmon linked to the role post-Brosnan.
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11-09-2008 @ 11:36AM
Claire said...
we're not talking about being politically correct. we're talking about the evolution of a character. each actor whose played him has brought something different to the character. he has changed a good deal already. I think a black James Bond could be interesting. of course i'd like to see the character in a woman's perspective at some point as well.
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11-09-2008 @ 11:41AM
ropetrick said...
Lets not forget that there was a black Felix Leiter in one of the Bond outings. I forget which one but I think the actor was Berney Casey
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11-09-2008 @ 11:49AM
Dennis said...
If we're strictly talking about who the first black Bond should be... HAS to be Idris Elba.
He's a fantastic actor, physcially in shape, and he's a Brit.
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11-11-2008 @ 4:52AM
Marvin said...
Will smith looks like the ultimate James Bond.
11-09-2008 @ 11:59AM
fanshawe said...
I'd say charisma is more important than sticking to Fleming's description. I mean, it's not as if they have much beside 'blockbuster' in mind when they make these movies and the whole cold war aspect is just as disposable and outdated as the anti-feminist legacy of the earlier Bond films.
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity, Dirty Pretty Things), for instance, could sweep the floor with Craig any day. Lennie James (Snatch, Jericho) also comes to mind.
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11-09-2008 @ 12:03PM
Bryan Price said...
Live in South Africa after awhile. You'll hear black and coloured. And yes, there is a difference. Obama is coloured to them.
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11-09-2008 @ 12:08PM
Jawmuncher said...
Honestly, it would depend on what Black Actor they chose.
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11-09-2008 @ 12:26PM
LordPaul said...
I'm all for equal opportunities, but what a dumb idea. Why not give Bond a non-white partner & then give that person a spin-off if he's accepted by the movie-going public?
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11-09-2008 @ 12:32PM
John Hudson said...
You have to be kidding. This is the stupidest idea, and it periodically comes up including making him a woman.
James Bond isn't black. Period.
It's not a racial thing, it's just the way it is. Why not make Harry Potter black? Why not make Sherlock Holmes black? Why not make Tarzan black?
Because they aren't black!
James Bond isn't a president. He is a specific character. If you ask me, they need to stop with the blond thing and don't push it any farther. They are already getting too far away from the books as it is with this new film.
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11-09-2008 @ 1:00PM
LordPaul said...
Exactly!
I was trying to think of examples to use, but yours work.
And it /is/ political correctness to want to change established things to seem to be doing it for reasons of equality.
It's patronising & pretty crass to presume that a person of a different race or sex or whatever would even want to play a character that was written about someone else rather than have a character that was written without specific traits.
I think this is abit of confusion between british pop icons - James Bond != Dr Who.
11-09-2008 @ 2:32PM
John Hudson said...
I also think it's PC to want to make Bond a woman or black.
If movie makers want better black heroes, they should create them, not try to turn established characters into something they're not.
Back in the 70s they even though of having Burt Reynolds play James Bond. That would have been equally ridiculous.
11-09-2008 @ 2:39PM
qtrust said...
I don't think it's right changing the character from a caucasian to a black man. I am black and a fan of the series and I wouldn't like them going as far as changing the ethnicity of the character.
It's like saying you want to change John Shaft to a different nationality. It's just not I want to see. If Daniel Craig wants a black Bond, it's his preference. It shouldn't be forced on us. Black people still watch the films without complaining about the race of the character.
The only current character in popular film and TV that can be changed without much argument (I believe) is Doctor Who. That (also a fan of), has no fix race. He is male but not of any particular race (as he isn't human) and there's no reason why the character can't assume the body of a Chinese, Black or whatever.
So (again as a black man), as long as no one is willing to change John Shaft to a different race, let 007 be!!
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11-09-2008 @ 2:12PM
Eric D. Snider said...
So I guess the answer to the question in the headline is ... no. Duly noted.
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11-09-2008 @ 5:14PM
Gary said...
Eric, that was a bit of a low blow there.
The answer to your question seems to be yes, of course the world is ready for a black James Bond, do you think this is 1904 or something?
The problem is and is exactly what the posters above are saying is that the world does not want a black James Bond because James Bond is not black.
There is a huge difference between the two and you fully well know that too.