Can you picture a gay 007?
Sure. Why not? [Pauses thoughtfully] Actually, I don’t know how it would work. I don’t think Barbara [Broccoli, the James Bond producer] would allow a gay Bond to happen in her lifetime. But it would certainly make for interesting viewing. Let’s start with a great black actor being James Bond. Idris Elba certainly has the physicality, the charisma, the presence. But I think Daniel [Craig] will be there for a while yet.
— Former Bond Pierce Brosnan to Details
Transiteer
Of all the Bonds, I liked Brosnan best. I liked Moore too, but I’ve never been able to warm up to Craig. Brosnan #1.
Will Moor
@Transiteer: I agree 100%. Although I am one of the few folks who loved View to a Kill. lol
Jonathon Popphan
It would actually make more sense.
Sukhrajah
@transiteer, @will moor, You both are certainly not alone in feeling that way. I adore him in the role, and see myself in the minority. My Dad and I spoke about it when I took him to see “Skyfall” and as a life-long Bond Fan, he explained that he too was not enthused by Craig’s Bond. In speaking to him, I realized that his main qualms were that Bond lacked the essential ‘Bondnesses’ of Bonds past (flashy gadgets, spectacular fight scenes, massive explosions, the virility of his consistent sexual conquests et al). Interestingly, he used the term “slightly castrated” and while I spoke to him about it further, I began to understand how (from a life-long fan’s perspective) that is a detractor (and not necessarily as chauvinistic as it sounds). In thinking about it further I began to realize that the current Bond story line, as well as the current ‘weaknesses’ associated with the portrayal are actually the product of the writers and the directors and much less that of Craig’s performance. Bond has had to evolve with the times, and this too is another evolution. It is truly a Herculean task to take a role that iconocastically inspired a generation of men through decades (from a time in which attitudes towards Women, and Women’s Rights evolved and changed significantly) thus effecting not only the gender roles and norms of men, but also their attitudes and behaviors. It is a bit hard to imagine a movie like “Goldfinger” being reproduced today, in it’s original form and not angering Women, or being hailed as mysoganistic (and rightfully so). The new ‘Bond’ had to happen in order to keep some sort of relevance, and that includes portraying a character that is seen through a lens that is closer to his heart, and to his head. It perhaps, or at least this is the percieved goal of the writers – more accurately reaches and resonates with a younger and larger audience thus putting more eyes on a screen. I think that the most poignent example that I can muster is that in “Skyfall”, there were no impresive cars, no expensive guns, no fabulous gadgets, no explicit love scenes, just a ‘man, a gun and a radio’. I understand how that resonated with quintesentially British (and intelligent viewers) in that we are in the midst of a financial global meltdown. Belt-tightening aided in the goals of the writing – show Bond for the man, not the gadgets. Though not blameless, I do find that Craig is doing a fantastic job of acting the character that is being written for him – in so much, he was chosen for those very qualities. Now, it will not resonate with die-hard fans, and I am seeing that now, en masse. People loved the older Bond(s) and have come to expect just that going forward. The writing staff indeed now have their tasks at hand – how do you do something new, and fresh – and yet still keep the essential Bondness (the manicured Bravado, the reserved intelligence, the excellence of performance). I love Mr. Craig as Bond, and despite the fact that I disagree (partly) with you guys (and my Dad), I completely understand where you guys are coming from, and hope that the writers deliver an amazing next installment to bring both old and new fans back into the fold and deliver to both sets of expectations.
hist68
I don’t want to see a gay bond. That’s just not the character. One of the iconic aspects of bond movies are the bond girls most of which he sleeps with. So if he’s gay will it be just a bond boy? Or bond fag hag? Instead why not create a badass hot gay spy character instead.
Billy Budd
No, please don’t make him gay. Make him BISEXUAL. I wanna see him with both girls and boys. It is more natural.
Billy Budd
I want to see another Pussy Galore and a Butt Galore now.
Clark35
@Billy Budd: They already sort of did that in the movie The Matador where the character was bisexual and played by Brosnan; but it was not James Bond.
Josh447
Billy Bud…..I agree! He could be a super sleuth towards both sexes which would really open up the suspense factor.
That said, I need to see a Bond with scintillating spark which I feel Craig lacks. Bronson Connery and Moore had it in spades. Very watchable. Craig leaves me quite cold in this role. There is an almost souless quality that leaves me wondering about his overall charisma.
I will say however, that he has done other work that was truly splendid. He was spot on in Infamous, the movie about Truman Capote writing the book In Cold Blood. He was just amazing. The movie was fascinating. I loved him in that role and in that show.
Ditamo
He can just be bisexual or pansexual. I actually feel like if you’re a secret agent you should be pan to do your job right…..so i think it makes better sense as pan instead of gay or straight.
jwtraveler
@hist68: @Billy Budd: I was thinking they could replace Pussy Galore with Dick Fordays or maybe Dick Todiefor.
DutchGay
Pierce was being sarcastic. He quit being Bond on a way that he didn’t like so I guess this shows he actually doesn’t care anymore for the Bond character.
Sheldon Siegel
It would explain the name “Blowfeld”.ð???
Clark35
@Ditamo: Pansexual is just another term for being bisexual, only it’s one that’s used by people who are full of internalized biphobia and who will use other terms to avoid actually coming out as bisexual. Secondly, a lot of bisexual people are attracted both sexually and romantically to transmen and transwomen, and both transmen and transwomen are part of the male and female genders, as are intersex and “genderqueer” people.
Will Moor
@Sukhrajah: interesting post but don’t think your comment about this new Bond being more appreciated by “intelligent” audiences was lost on me, or your remarks about age. I am not sure how old or stupid you think I am, but Daniel Craig is much older than I am and I may not be a rocket scientist but I am also no buffoon either. Just for the record. I never said that Daniel Craig sucks as an actor, he is actually quite a good looking guy and as a person or actor I have no issue with him. I just prefer Brosnan and Moore. Simple.
ashton7326
sorry but MR Bond is straight he loves the women that’s why I watch it to see the beautiful women he seduces. If they created his character gay it would turn off majority of his fans . IN the next bond film his character would be in it and he would die in the first 10 min of the movie saving another agent so he could go out with dignity and then you have your heterosexual Bond back and all the hot women. Leave bond alone . create your own spy series with a gay man and have all the hot guys to your hearts contend