James Bond Racist

[thehawk]

mybrainhurts said:

Already pioneered by that luvverly bunch at the BBC...

That's one of the creepiest things I've seen, and yet apparently that show ran for many years :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9H71gPtRSgs

[Corpulent Tosser]

MrBarry123 said:

There is absolutely no good reason why James Bond could not be played by an actor such as Idris Elba; other than some outdated and racist belief that a character portraying the British Secret Service cannot be non-White.

There is no reason a why a non-white cannot play a character portraying a member of the British Secret Service, just not portraying James Bond.

Why would anyone even consider such a thing other than to make some PC point, are there no white British actors who can play this white British part ?

[wolves_wanderer]

Hackney said:

I look forward to seeing Eddie Redmayne or Benedict Cumberbatch playing Django in Tarantino's sequel.
What? It's fiction, right? So the guy playing the recently freed slave doesn't need to be black.
Or are you racist and think only black actors can play "black roles"

Were there a lot of white slaves in 19th century America? If so then you have a point.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Hackney said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Oh ffs. Prince Philip, Mohammed Ali, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King....these are/were real people. James Bond is a fictional character.

I would be against Denzil Washington playing Andy Warhol, but that's not what's being discussed here.

It's not difficult to grasp. A made up person can be any colour your imagination can stretch to.

And Ian Flemming's imagination stretched to a white Bond.
End thread.

Yes, and the writings of Bond films have never strayed from the original books.

And if you're such a devotee of Fleming, I'd hope you could spell his name correctly!

Ffs, what's wrong with people. Imho, Bond needs to be a rather well spoken, sophisticated British man. That's it. I don't care what colour he is. Danny Dyer could never play Bond, but Don Warrington when he was younger could have.

[AnotherClarkey]

It might not please some but The character is really very European. Swiss mother, much upbringing abroad, fluent French and German.

Rather like another great British hero, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.....

[selym]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Yes, and the writings of Bond films have never strayed from the original books.

And if you're such a devotee of Fleming, I'd hope you could spell his name correctly!

Ffs, what's wrong with people. Imho, Bond needs to be a rather well spoken, sophisticated British man. That's it. I don't care what colour he is. Danny Dyer could never play Bond, but Don Warrington when he was younger could have.

I wholly support your opinion. Much as I do Roger Moore's, which has been blown up to be something it never was.
Whoever casts the films will have the last say; let's see how 'right on' they are (or aren't) in the future.

[anonymous-user]

I'm offended more than anyone else. I win.

[anonymous-user]

A black Bond would mean the story from now on would relate to a code and false name applied to the best agent and this name would be passed on to the next agent through the death or retirement of the present 007. That's not a crazy idea but why the need to change it from how it is now, especially now Bond's ancestry has played a part in the latest film?

[voyds9]

As Cubby Broccoli's daughter stopped Sean Bean being James Bond when she heard his accent I think she may have something to say about the colour of his skin.

[hairykrishna]

I don't get why people are so angry. It's not some campaign to make Bond politically correct by casting a 'minority'. I think Idris Elba would probably do a good job of it to be honest. The aspects that define Bonds character, which are pretty changable anyway, aren't dependant on what colour he is.

The people who are talking about being true to the books are just daft. I suggest reading some of them and comparing to the existing films.

[moorx]

R666 said:

Chim said:

moorx said:

R666 said:

In the books James bond is white, therefore a black James Bond is a no

As others have said, race has changed between book and film/performance in other instances - Lincoln Rhyme is white in Jeffrey Deaver's books, but was played by Denzel Washington in 'The Bone Collector'.

Quite a lot different, the essence of Bond is his Britishness, this defines the character and has been played on in every film ever made, in recent films they have been tapping into this even more and looking at his past in order to explain his character, a very british past. Suddenly popping up with a black guy in the role would be stupid and would, in my opinion, make a complete mockery of the character and the image that has been built over decades and many films.

The question that should be asked is why, there is no sound reason to take this turn, its not as if we have ran out of white blokes to make the film with. The only reason for casting a black actor in the role would be to sate the looney left and PC brigade as its certainly no way in keeping with the character or necessary in any sane way.

+ 1. This.

I wasn't saying that he should be played by a black actor. I don't actually care, because I'm not really a JB fan (except for the DB5 of course). I was just trying to point out that it's not as 'black and white' (if you'll excuse the pun) as was being suggested....

[MarshPhantom]

hairykrishna said:

I don't get why people are so angry.

Because PH.

[killingjoker]

Daniel Craig is going to be a hard act to follow anyway seeing as he is the best actor to play 007 since Sean Connery. I think the character of James Bond should be white as it fits the story.

I like Idris Elba. His programme on cars was excellent but should be making a feature film of Luther. Now that would be more like it. Incidently, if Idris did play Bond i don't think he would want to exchange the Aston for an electric car as he is a real petrolhead.

[popeyewhite]

xjsdriver said:

I think you'll find Paddington is quintessentially Peruvian......not English. HTH

Quintessential English parrot on the way to you.

P.S. - previous page:

FarleyRusk said:

Paddington was from bloody Peru so almost certain to be a bit more tanned than a domestic bear.

[Janluke]

Many of us grew up with the James Bond character The Roger Moore films where the perfect transition from kids films into more grown up films. Some guns, cars, sexy women and a bit of comedy but not too violent, too adult etc. Like Dr Who we feel a little ownership over the man and somewhat protective.
Our ownership of the role and connection to the character means very little to the movie industry its all about the bottom line so when any changes are made we are going to feel sceptical.
Personally I have no issue with a black Bond assuming he’s the best man for the job and not picked because its time for a black Bond. Idris Elba would make a fine Bond, Lenny Henry not so much
Not wanting a Black/Asian/Female Bond is not, on its own, a racist/sexist view

[Halb]

Mr Whippy said:

Personally I always thought Salmon would be a good bond full stop, and was kinda expecting it after Brosnan. Instead they went for the most boring bond yet.

I always thought he was a bit light/wooden. An OK Bond in the mould of Bronsnan/Moore for a 90s feel. He is the right height.
I don't think he fits today's Bond.

[Asterix]

I think Elba could have been a good bond - I think he's probably getting on a bit now to be considered next time round. Hasn't Craig signed up for five in total?

The next Bond after Craig might not be on screen for another 6 odd years. Elba would be 48 by then.

[Halb]

AnotherClarkey said:

It might not please some but The character is really very European. Swiss mother, much upbringing abroad, fluent French and German.

Rather like another great British hero, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.....

Or Churchill?

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Why now? Since Bond has survived height, eye-colour, hair-colour, has had the protagonist both acknowledge previous Bonds and deny/assume their life, and has been rebooted at least once.

[popeyewhite]

birdcage said:

A new more enlightened world in which anyone could be 'believed' as bond is what we have here.

Just read this

Bond is white. Bond has history. He could be played by a black person, but that would be kind of stupid as he's supposed to be an incognito spy.


The name's Bond, James Bond

I know

What?...How?

It's easy - I was told to look for the only coloured bloke.


Bourne could be played by DenZel, who is a brilliant actor. But Bourne exists in the moment, and the Bourne trilogy starts with the spy waking up with amnesia.

So Bourne's history is ambiguous. Bond is entirely different.


None of my comments are racist or backward or non-utopian... nor denote some kind of cultural praxis. Simply a matter of practicality.

[Halb]

Asterix said:

I think Elba could have been a good bond - I think he's probably getting on a bit now to be considered next time round. Hasn't Craig signed up for five in total?

The next Bond after Craig might not be on screen for another 6 odd years. Elba would be 48 by then.

I think it could come down to style and fitness. Moore was 41 when he took it on, and is older than Sean. But then Moore was never a physical Bond and didn't have the bod. A Bond who stands back and judo chops bad guy (Austin Powers style) wouldn't last today.
Does Idris look good? Has he got abs?