James Bond actor Daniel Craig has said that his latest film will be his last as the iconic character, and revealed he thinks a woman should be considered for next time.
Speaking to the Mirror, the 51-year-old says he's hanging up the tuxedo and cutting down on the martinis, but thinks the search next person to earn their license to kill should encompass all people, regardless of race, gender or sexual orientation.
"I think that everybody should be considered. Also for women and for African-Americans, there should be great parts anyway, across the board," Craig said of the search for the next Bond actor.
One person confirmed for Bond 25 is Rami Malek. Here he is, discussing rumours of his role:Craig's claim is the latest voice in a growing clamour for the next iteration of James Bond to feature something other than a white, heterosexual male. Speaking to This Morning, former Bond girl Madeleine Smith explained that having a female character would bring something different to the role:
"I cannot see any reason why ultimately, a woman, a lady, a girl, cannot play the James Bond character. What would a woman bring to the role? Sensitivity. Sex. I don't necessarily advocate having a woman... but times have changed.
"Women play a far greater role now," explained Smith, who starred alongside Roger Moore in 1973's Live and Let Die. "They've emerged from the darkness and the dark ages," she added, but one woman who isn't as optimistic on a female 007 is James Bond producer, Barbara Broccoli.
Speaking to the Guardian last year, she said:
"Bond is male. He's a male character. He was written as a male and I think he'll probably stay as a male. And that's fine. We don't have to turn male characters into women. Let's just create more female characters and make the story fit those female characters."
In the past, Broccoli has been open to the idea - "who knows what the future will bring?" she said back in 2017 - but it remains to be seen who will be the next 007. Until then, we've got Bond 25 to look forward to - which will arrive in cinemas on April 8.
