James Bond Gender Debate Continues, Franchise Producer Says Bond ”Can Be of Any Color, But He Is Male”

According to the James Bond franchise producer, the next Bond will not be a woman.

“He can be of any color, but he is a male,” Barbara Broccoli said in an interview with Variety. “I believe we should be creating new characters for women, strong female characters. I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.”

Last summer, rumors circulated that the next James Bond would be played by actress Lashana Lynch in the upcoming film ‘No Time to Die,’ which will be released in April.

This rumor was proven to be false once the official trailer was released in December.

During a November interview, Daniel Craig explained that he will no longer be playing the role of James Bond after the upcoming April film. But, in response, Broccoli said the thought of Craig’s exit is too traumatic for her to deal with.

”I’m in total denial,” Broccoli said. “I’ve accepted what Daniel has said, but I’m still in denial. It’s too traumatic for me.”