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Colin Salmone. I think he maybe could've done it but I don't think he'd have been as good as Craig. He was also nearly the 1st black Doctor Who before Matt Smith got it.
I'm black and I'm not offended at all. I just really, really don't care. If he's eventually played by a black actor, fine. If he never is, also fine.
This is probably the best thing I've read on this thread. This is what most people should aspire to do.
http://www.mi6community.com/index.php?p=/discussion/1271/is-a-black-james-bond-inevitable-/p1
All kidding aside, I did like the actor they used in that little film, but I'd rather see him with Bond, not as Bond.
Maybe one day we can get another quick scene like from Thunderball, where it shows all the OO agents gathered. Put that guy in there- have him go on a mission with Daniel Craig's Bond. Bottom line, he's not Bond.
Then some people seem to think that if you don't want a black actor as Bond then you must be racist. But what if they feel that the films should hew as close to the novels as possible?
Sometimes people on this forum use extreme arguments to make their points and it really doesn't aid in any reasonable discussion.
Here are my thoughts:
If a period film were made at some point in the future, or a continuation novel were written set during the 50s or early 60s then a black Bond would be ridiculous. Based on where black people were in society in the 50s and how the majority of the population viewed them Bond being black would become a major element of the character and the stories. That would change them tremendously.
However, if a black actor was cast as Bond in the films they are making now it would be a different matter. Bond's defining trait is his nationality, not his race - the inverse of the character of Shaft (who is the "black private dick", not the "American private dick" much as Bond is always "British secret agent James Bond" not "white secret agent James Bond"). As long as Bond is English in the modern films that is my main concern.
I wonder if my thoughts have been influenced because of people that I've known in my life. A friend of mine, who is English and black, has that smoothness, class, wardrobe, and effortless confidence that has made some people joke about how he's a real-life James Bond. I also watch a lot of British TV so when I think of a black James Bond I think of my friend or someone like Adrian Lester or Colin Salmon. I never think of Americans like Will Smith or Jamie Foxx and I never think of more "thuggish" actors either.
Amen ... I completley agree with you wizard , great post.
Just like @thelordflasheart stated, Bond is a 'British secret agent', not 'white secret agent'. If he's British, and a black man stepped up and was best for the role, then why not? But, I do tend to see a lot of British actors portraying Americans, and not so much vice versa. Is it because a British accent is hard to obtain? Robert Downey Jr. holds a great one in the Sherlock Holmes films, so imagine the wider scope of possible Bond actors if some were chosen to play Bond, if they went through proper classes and sessions to achieve a truly believable accent.
I agree 100% rouge agent. Bond is well established as a white male, it's like making a movie about Rosa Parks but portraying her as a white woman. Flemings books alongside the Cinematic History of Bond has established 007 as a white British male just as factual history has established Martin Luther king, Malcolm X and Rosa Parks as great iconic black figures of history, it just wouldn't make sense to make them white, just as it wouldn't make sense to make bond black.
BOND WILL ALWAYS BE A BRITISH CAUCASIAN MALE, IF IT EVER CHANGES I will just stop seeing the films and disown the franchise . Its not because I am racist, I know many great black people, but bond is not black, its as simple as that. If bond was changed to Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Muslim etc I would disown the franchise as well.
Zombie Bond, then?
You Only Live Twice?
amen..nobody says it better
I actually worry for the future of the Human race when I read comments like this. You are an idiot. An absolute buffoon.
Read this part of your post again and try and find which part(s) make you sound like a moron.
Sorry, I love the post I wrote and I just can't find any moronic statements in it. Instead of calling others morons try offering something more useful to the argument buddy.
You simply can't compare real figures in history to fictional characters when it comes to debating their skin color. They are two absolutely different things and the argument is pointless to make and impossible to present without coming off as shallow or thick in the head.
Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks, Kunte Kinte and along with many other famous historical black figures are set in stone throughout history as being black, BECAUSE THEY ARE AND WERE BLACK. NOW im sure if a movie came out about MLK being portrayed as a white man people, especially the African American community would be very upset because quite clearly it wouldn't make sense due to video's, TV interviews and documentaries clearly showing MLK's ethnicity as being black.
James Bond as well, has long been established as being a white British male through 22 films ,countless novels , memorabilia and must I say, even James Bond Jr the animated series acknowledged the fact that Bond was a white British male . It would simply just not make any sense at all to change bonds race and nationality.
Regardless of the fact that im comparing long established historical figures to a long estsablished cinematic figure doesn't bring down my argument, its simply saying constant repitition and legacy of seeing somebody as they are portrayed over years and years whether they be fictional or nonfictional should stay true to the original race.
TRADITION IS EVERYTHING.
That 'Travolta' character actor even said there are a lot of agents and we could explore them. Not that I'm looking for a spin-off mind you, but I think you get where I'm going
If tradition were everything, MLK would have still been a slave. :0
Mixing fact and fiction is not sound rhetoric.
And im not mixing fact and fiction, im simply comparing the long standing significance of two equal figures of importance. MLK being a non-fictional famous black rights activist who has long been established as black and James Bond being a famous fictional cinematic figure of espionage action films who has long been established as white.
YES I GET THE FACT THEY BOTH ARE ON THE OPPOSITES OF REALITY BUT THEY BOTH ARE WELL KNOWN BY THEIR RACE, THEREFORE IT WOULD MAKE NO SENSE TO CHANGE THEIR RACE. AND IF THEY DID CHANGE BONDS RACE- IT WOULD BE PURELY A PC MOVE.
point concluded
Just saying, In my Film Fiction, my Bond is a black man. No racism, jokes or rudeness intended, just something i'd like to see, and when i end the filmfic, i'd like to see your opinions about it. Wesley Snipes could work greatly on the role if he were like 5-10 years younger. and repeating, i'm Just Saying this.
In my honest opinion, if a black Bond were quoted to the role, i'd like that. Nothing wrong with it, however it's a pity that not everyone would like of sort an idea like this.
And off-topic, @Creasy47, nice Brosnan's profile picture. :) \m/
But someone like MLK will ALWAYS be played by a black actor, in any film or television show you watch. It's just how it is. He's an African American, and will always be portrayed as such.
@X3MSonicX, thank you :) I felt it was time for a change after hitting the 1,500 post mark, and I figured another black-and-white of Brosnan smoking would do just nicely.
Exactly what i wanted to say. If Bond would be played as a black actor just for one time, i'd give a try too. It would be cool, if you think and rethink better.
@Creasy47 I noticed :D and it is a good picture of him. nice choose. :)
Call me a racist but I would be finished with the 007 series. It is not something I would bewilling to watch. The same goes for the what if he is played by a woman, probably makes me sexist too. I do not care from any deviation from the original character as has happened so far.