He’s letting the sky fall on a female 007.
Sir Roger Moore’s son Geoffrey — a k a Jaffa — joined the pop culture fray Thursday to declare the role of James Bond should only be played by men.
The late actor’s musician offspring said that it simply “wouldn’t be James Bond” if a woman took over the iconic role of Ian Fleming’s international spy.
“Well, then it’s no longer James Bond,” Moore, 56, told the UK’s Express. “I mean, she could be 006, 008, or 009 … It wouldn’t be the same because it’s Bond. It’s Fleming’s Bond. It’s a guy, unfortunately.”
Moore’s comments come after the “007” moniker was bequeathed to Lashana Lynch’s character at the end of the most recent Bond installment ” No Time To Die,” which marked the end of Daniel Craig’s tenure as the spy.
“In the last Bond, I think this was the confusion,” explained Moore. “that she [Lashana’s character Nomi] was 007 and then said, ‘I’ve got to give it back to Bond. It’s his number.’ So I think that’s very good — and I think they were also testing the waters.”
Moore — pictured on the set of 1983’s “Octopussy” —quit the franchise when he realized he couldn’t hang “around women in their early 20s without it appearing creepy.”Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images Moore’s father, Sir Roger Moore, who died in 2017 due to cancer, played the super spy over the course of seven films during the 1970s and 80s before leaving the character behind at the age of 58.
Moore quit the franchise when he realized he couldn’t hang “around women in their early 20s without it appearing creepy,” according to an interview with The Mirror shortly before his death.
The outspoken fruit of Sir Roger’s loins suggested that someone could do a potential spin-off with a female protagonist.
“Maybe there will be a ‘From the filmmakers of James Bond comes Jane or Jemima Bond’ or whatever,” the younger Moore said, continuing to stoke the flames of potential controversy.
Despite that, Moore Jr. still firmly believes that a man should portray the character.
However, the potential “nepo baby” candidate did proclaim that women deserve an equally successful franchise.
“It’s right and they should,” said Moore.
Moore went on to endorse the possibiltiy other female-driven spy films.
“If you look at Charlize Theron in ‘Atomic Blonde’ … I mean, women can certainly pull it off and certainly do the fight sequences,” he said. “And even if not, as a species ladies are probably smarter! But in terms of the role itself, Fleming’s Bond is James Bond.”
Moore’s comments come after the title “007” was bequeathed to Lashana Lynch’s character, Nomi at the end of the most recent film ” No Time to Die.” Nicola Dove / © MGM / courtesy Everett Collection
The sentiment of a male-only James Bond was echoed by Daniel Craig in 2021 ahead of the release of “No Time to Die.” Nicola Dove / © MGM / Courtesy Everett Collection The sentiment in favor of a male-only James Bond was echoed by Daniel Craig in 2021 ahead of the release of “No Time to Die.”
“Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman,” Craig said in an interview with Radio Times.
Barbara Broccoli, the iconic franchise’s producer, also made the statement in 2020 while talking with Variety.
“James Bond can be of any color, but he is male,” said the then 61-year-old. “I believe we should be creating new characters for women – strong female characters.”
“I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.”
