Jenna Ortega perfectly explains why female James Bond is a bad idea

Jenna Ortega has firmly rejected the discussion surrounding the practice of gender-swapping beloved film characters.

The concept of altering the gender of a well-known movie’s cast is not a novel idea, as evidenced by the 2016 film Ghostbusters.

Nevertheless, this particular genre of film often faces criticism from viewers who argue that female actors deserve the opportunity to portray original characters in fresh franchises, rather than being placed into preexisting ones.

Jenna Ortega is among those who criticize the idea of a gender-swapped version of Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands. In an interview with MTV, she expressed her appreciation for the increasing number of female leads in movies, but also stated that women should have their own unique characters rather than just swapping genders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjZd3W7kgxc

“I just read it and went, oh sh*t” Jenna Ortega & Catherine O’Hara on Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjZd3W7kgxc)

The woman persisted, stating “I dislike when it feels like a spinoff. I have no interest in watching something like ‘Jamie Bond.’ I want to see another kickass character.”

The concept of a woman playing the role of James Bond has been considered since before the film adaptations of Ian Fleming’s popular book series were made.

In his forthcoming biography of Fleming, Nicholas Shakespeare disclosed that producer Gregory Ratoff had envisioned a female portraying the titular spy following the negative reception of both Thunderball (1965) and Casino Royale (1967).

After considering casting Oscar-winning actress Susan Hayward as Bond, Ratoff ultimately decided to stick with the status quo after meeting Sean Connery, who would go on to hold the role from 1962 to 1983.

The topic of a female Bond resurfaced when Daniel Craig revealed his departure from the franchise after portraying Bond for 15 years. There were also discussions among fans about the possibility of a person of color being the first to take on the role in the franchise’s history.

Daniel Craig as James Bond pointing a gun at someone — Sony Pictures

Despite being open to the idea of a Black James Bond, Bond franchise producer Barbara Broccoli currently has no plans to cast a woman in the role for the foreseeable future.

“I believe the next James Bond should be a man, as I don’t think a woman should play the role,”Broccoli stated to The Hollywood Reporter when discussing the potential successor to Craig. “I strongly support creating strong and dynamic female characters, rather than simply having women play traditionally male roles.”

“I believe that there is a lack of quality roles available for women, and it is crucial that we prioritize creating films that center around strong female characters. The actor in question should be British, with the understanding that ‘British’ can encompass any ethnicity or race.”

To discover more, take a look at our guides for the top movies of 2024 thus far and all the movies available for streaming in September. Additionally, stay updated on the best TV shows being streamed this month.