Lashana Lynch is 007. But not the legendary Bond.

Lashana Lynch is a black woman taking up the mantle of 007. That doesn’t make her James Bond. And it doesn’t mean that Bond 25 is some sort of “007 Jane” movie.

Daniel Craig is still Bond

Daniel Craig is still in the movie. He’s retired, and M wants him back. He’s gotta solve some new crisis. Same deal, new movie.

Lashana Lynch is her own character

Taking up the codename of 007 doesn’t mean she’s Bond. It also doesn’t mean she’s the main character. It makes no sense for the Bond franchise to commit seppuku and change a winning formula after 60 years.

However, we have seen franchises do that before.

Lashana Lynch is a side character

Unless otherwise stated, it seems that Lashana Lynch is trying to get Bond out of retirement. One can imagine the shenanigans a reluctant hero has to go through. Does Lashana Lynch help him out? Drag him by the ear? Not give a crap? We don’t know yet.

However, so long as she’s in a supporting role? This is a good thing. Having him or her or whomever be named the 007 is unimportant.

If Lashana Lynch is the main character?

Then we have a problem. People are here to see a Bond film.

A James Bond movie, or the franchise, has specific elements it must hit.

• A chase scene
• A femme fatale (and not necessarily a good girl)
• Cool gadgets
• Comedy
• James Bond being James Bond

There are some aspects to “comedy.” Is it goofy with weird sub-bosses, like Oddjob and Jaws? Is it dark with Sean Connery in Dr. No “You’ve had your six.” The Live and Let Die body expansion and explosion, caused by an air pellet from Roger Moore? Deadly one liners? Will Lashana Lynch just be delivering some of those one liners?

We don’t know. But nothing is saying that she will be the main character.

And if she is? We’ve got a problem.

James Bond being James Bond

This is the main issue. The fans want the traditional Bond: suave, clever, deadly. Delivering one liners, seducing women, and killing the bad guys with style.

That’s not to say Lashana Lynch can’t do these things too. It’s simply not what viewers want. It’s not what they expect.

If you’re making a Bond film? Make it a Bond film.

Getting woke, going broke.

The influence of feminism is strong in the UK. Is putting a black woman in a flim pandering? Yes, but so are most things in writing. Does it have a place here? As a sign of the times, I would say yes.

However, how strong an influence will determine how much the Bond audience can take. Espcially how overtly blatant that message or inclusion is. A Bond film is pandering to a certain audience. Which seems counter to the feminist agenda. Now, I would argue this is a good thing. Giving people want they want, while introducing new elements is how things should be done anyway.

But Bond has always been a sign of its times. From technology, to world politics, to new cars and wristwatches. So long as things are slick, cool, and modern? Social messages and other sensibilities should be fine.

At least, they’ll (hopefully) be the brunt of good comedy.

Co-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge certainly has feminist leanings. She’s also the creator, executive producer, and writer of Killing Eve, a UK TV spy thriller. Which is based on the Villanelle novel series by Luke Jennings. So while the writer is female and feminist? She has experience writing spy thrillers.

Bond is the ultimate spy. At least in popular movies. I’d say he’s in good, creative, female hands.

Hopefully.

Here’s my video on the topic