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Rumored James Bond Contender Shares Thoughts On A Diverse 007-TGN

Summary

  • Black Mirror star Paapa Essiedu questions whether casting a person of color as James Bond truly represents progress for diversity in the franchise.

  • The James Bond films have a history of troubling depictions of race and diversity, and the presence of diverse actors in casting discussions does not guarantee positive change.

  • To embrace true diversity, the James Bond franchise must make changes both in front of and behind the cameras.

Black Mirror star and rumored James Bond contender Paapa Essiedu has shared his thoughts about a diverse 007. With Daniel Craig finishing up in the role following 2021’s No Time To Die, speculation has been rampant about which actor will be picked to replace him. Essiedu, who is known for his roles in Gangs of London and the recent Black Mirror episode “Demon 79,” currently sits as one of the current odds-on favorites just behind the likes of Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, James Norton, and Regé-Jean Page.

While speaking with The Times about his potential involvement with the James Bond franchise, Essiedu was asked whether he felt his possible casting would mark a positive step forward for diversity in the long-running spy franchise. Giving a thoughtful response, the Black Mirror star questioned whether there was far more to the issue of encouraging diversity than simply casting himself or another actor of color in the role. Check out his response below:

Do you want to base it on whether James Bond is going to be black . . . or south Asian or east Asian? Does that mean that diversity is going the right way if the profits end in the pockets of the same people? It’s too multilayered a test study, so it’s not a question I can answer or really want to answer.

Will The James Bond Franchise Have A More Diverse Future?

Owing its origins to a vastly different era, the James Bond franchise is one that has regularly struggled to reinvent itself to keep pace with changing sensibilities and modern belief systems. While a great deal of emphasis has been given to 007’s decidedly sexist roots, over the years the James Bond films have also had their fair share of troubling depictions of race and diversity. Even earlier this year, it was announced that Ian Fleming’s original novels would follow a precedent set by Roald Dahl’s publishers and would be re-edited to remove racist content.

While it would be heartening to think the presence of Black actors such as Essiedu, Page and Idris Elba in the latest James Bond casting discussions marks a significant step forward for the franchise, sadly public discussion has not been entirely positive or constructive. Just recently, fan-favorite James Bond pick Elba slammed the reactions he had received concerning his own possible casting as “disgusting and off-putting,” and was subsequently deterred from being connected to a role he was once flattered to be considered for.

Related: 10 Next James Bond Actors Who Are Still In Contention

However, if the Bond franchise is to continue to thrive in the 21st century, it will need to continue to evolve with the world in which it is set. Yet Essiedu’s comments do also raise a very important point, and while many may lobby to see an actor of color cast as the next 007, there is far more involved in championing diverse representation than simply picking the next actor to play Bond. A future that embraces a truly diverse James Bond franchise would require shakeups both in front of and behind the cameras.

Source: The Times