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Couldn't agree with this more
The thing I think nobody ever thinks about is, if Eon deciding tomorrow "insert name here" (a black actor) is going to be the new Bond. What happens if say he has 3 films in 6 years (I can only dream) and they all do poorly in the box office. The actor doesn't connect with the audience, so Eon then decide to recast. Imagine the outcry from those who wanted a "black Bond" or a "female 007" if Eon choose a white actor as Bond to replace him. The backlash would be ridiculous and frankly all self inflected
On the flip side, If I were a black actor, I would rather be a leading man in an action film because of my ability, not because people wanted to tick a box (most those people aren't fans and don't care about the series)
@DeerAtTheGates let's put it this way, BB and MGW will choose an actor that'll bring in the most cash. Alienating at least 50% of Bond's fanbase with a black actor is just not good for business. @Pierce2Daniel may think haircolour is the same as skincolour, but to the rest of the world that's not true. In any way, shape or form skincolour says something of your perceaved background (people get that wrong 90%of the time, but that's another story).
@suavejmf brings up a black Snow White, which Disney didn't do. But Disney did announce a live-action remake of The Little Mermaid, in which Ariel will be played by a black actress. In the source material (Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale), The Little Mermaid is white. In the Disney adaptation, Ariel is white. The public knows her as a white girl with red hair. The same goes for Bond: In the source material, he's a white character. In the adaptations, he's a white character. The public knows him as a white male.
And yet Disney chooses to make a remake with a black actress. That is not 'respecting how the source material wrote her', it's not even in line with their own adaptation. But they did it because they could, because they wanted to create diversity.
And then backlash followed, the same kind of backlash that would happen if EON announced a new Bond that's black. Disney basically set themselves up for backlash, they knew it would happen. But they set through with it, and the film will be released with a black actress playing a character that was white in the source material.
The crucial question in this, as @CommanderRoss pointed out: would EON do the same? Would they appoint a black man to be 007, knowing that they'd get backlash, and potential boycots, less sales and other negative side effects?
I think BB is someone who's willing to push the envelope, to cast an actor to have a 'fresh take'. But when there's studios breathing down your neck and the pressure is on to make profits (especially since Bond's other custodian, MGM, needs the income), I have to agree with @CommanderRoss: a white male as Bond is a safer bet, and the next actor will probably be white.
So could EON choose a black actor as Bond? Yes. Should they? Some are against it, others in favour, some are neutral. Will they? Probably not.
James Bond should be as close as he can to the source material. There are tons of ways to make that bold and innovative at the same time. One can be creative in thousands of different ways by using stellar narratives. Want Bold and Bondian? Take a look at CR. But that is still very close to the source material, isn't it?
People seem to think that innovation and boldness are done by going against character and characteristics. That's just dumb.
+1. Great post! I agree with you. The point in the argument is that I/we really don't want a black actor to be Bond......not because they are black.....but because Bond isn’t, Bond is white. Period. No debate
Colin Firth as Shaft? Jude Law & Hugh Grant in Bad Boys 3? An all white cast in Boyz N the Hood 2, Tom Cruise as the Black Panther? Robert Pattinson as ‘Blade’?? Adam Sandler as ‘Axel Foley?? All very stupid suggestions, just like the suggestion of Bond being Black or Asian!
I wouldn’t watch either....because it would no longer be Bond.
Nail on the head! Bond pretended to be Asian in YOLT because he is white. Bond got called a ‘Honkey’ in LALD as he’s white.
Please. X_X
In the UK, people from the sub continent of India are much more common than those with African heritage. If we're going to open the doors to all races, statistically, Indian folks out number black folks. Which mean "they" have a better chance of making it to, let's say Eton or Fettes.
Unless, we're changing the background to Bond as well. Instead of having a snobby chap, who wears his suits with such disdain, educated in the traditional old boy network, how about we have a state school chap, with no social mobility? Let's have Bond be both disabled and from a marginalised background, too. There's chaos.
Ha ha ha! What about him being a gay midget transsexual too. It wouldn’t be PC not to consider that too. All actors need to be considered apparently.
A gay Bond? absolutely not. A gay actor playing Bond? I'd have no problem with that at all. If he was the right man for the role his sexuality is irrelevant IMO.
I am ready for it at some point, though making it an issue or adding some racial undertone to the character or something within the plot could make it a real problem come recasting.
I think we all are in agreement that rebooting again to get around such thing would not be welcome?
It needs to be if it happens just a case of the next guy and the colour of his skin should be irrelevant so the next actor who inhabits the role can be white if necessary.
Although what happens when they recast after that, can imagine some will say if it goes back to type that it was just a token moment to appease some.
Do we not see the danger of some expecting the character to stay black?
I'm sorry it is a very dodgy situation to navigate and dealt with incorrectly it could become something that will shift the character entirely.
I'm not saying I'll boycott it but I will be most cautious when it or if it happens.
A fan trailer sure but is there anyone against fassbender honestly
I thought of him as early back as when he appeared as Archie Hicox in IB.
The age factor but if they wanted to go for an older Bond for a few films, I certainly wouldn't disapprove of it.
Love Fassy as an actor, oozes charisma, he just needs to stay away from Ridley Scott, such an impressive CV at the beginning and then it all went down hill, flop after flop and some real garbage on his resume.
He himself, perhaps? I get the feeling that he thinks the ship has sailed. It’s the same with Clive Owen and Idris Elba: they were on everyone’s list 5-7 years ago, but they don’t consider themselves for the role anymore.
Contrast with Henry Cavill, who is also in that same list of being named all those years ago, but he still very much wants the role.
This is incorrect as a black actor can’t play a white character. I agree with you....but changing Bonds race is just as drastic and ridiculous as changing his sexuality.
It's a change that personally I don't particularly want to see however as I said a page ago I'm now open to a black actor because I honestly expect it to happen. As keen as I am for Bond to stay white I think one day the actor playing him won't be and my love for all things Bond will outweigh any concern , so I'll keep watching.
+2
I don't think age is that much of a factor as much as being convincing in the role. I also wouldn't mind seeing a more mature Bond, personally.
If I was a producer, I'd definitely want to prolong recasting.
Come to think of it, they might want to go much younger this time round, like they did with Lazenby (although I guess at the time he was only marginally younger than Connery had been when cast.)
"Honestly, Michael B. Jordan would kill that shit. I think he’d kill it."
It's good she's only singing the tune and doesn't call the shots on casting.
Imo he could be the next black butch lesbian in Orange is the new Black, or is that Black is the new White?
Weren't there rumors he was set to replace Cavill as Superman? That might rule him out on Bond.
If there is anyone to pull off a half-Scottish, half-Swiss Bond as intended by Fleming, it's Fassbender!
Plus, the more likely media reaction would be "Ugh... another white straight male cast as Bond!"