Posted on 09/04/2015 12:01:48 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A new author has taken over the James Bond franchise. Anthony Horowitz has a new Bond novel due out this month. He’s generated some controversy leading up to the September 8th release with some comments regarding the potential casting of Idris Elba to replace Daniel Craig in future Bond films. From Collider:
[Elba] came to prominence playing “Stringer” Bell in David Simon‘s The Wire and broke out as the titular, grim detective of BBC’s superb Luther. There haven’t been many credible naysayers to his taking over for Craig when all is said and done, but now, James Bond author Anthony Horowitz has come out publicly as against the casting of Elba in the role, citing that the actor comes off as too “rough” and “street.”
Naturally, critics have piled on Horowitz, accusing him of utilizing these terms as euphemisms suggestive of racial epithets. That may or may not have been his intent. (He denies it.)
Regardless, there is a credible argument against casting Elba as Bond. That argument centers on his race.
The case for Elba rests on the claim that Bond’s racial identity shouldn’t matter. In some sense, that is true. A black Bond is conceivable in the modern age, and would even be uniquely interesting. Idris Elba remains an outstanding choice to play that version of the character. However, the question of whether Bond could be black deserves separate consideration from whether the current iteration of Bond should remain white. Indeed, making the current iteration black would prove insulting.
While a color-blind society remains a noble goal, the truth of living as a black man remains some distance from that ideal. Craig’s Bond has not had the experience that an Elba Bond would. Recasting the role without rebooting the character would trivialize the black experience. Elba’s Bond would need to be a different version of the character, not the one Craig has played to this point.
That transition would be premature if forced now. In many ways, this version of Bond is just getting started. He’s just begun his relationships with both Q and Moneypenny. He’s just established himself under Ralph Fiennes’ archetypal M. His new adventure, due this Christmas, will re-introduce his classic antagonist in the organization Spectre. Now is not the time for a radical redefinition of the character.
And I'm far better off for NOT having done either..
Because the original author is dead and there have already been too many James Bond books and movies?
Are they gonna have a white Shaft?
We already have Shaft, Superfly and Jayzee. All set.
Next up- Matt Damon is Shaft!
Where is the black GREGOR SAMSA?
Where is the black JAY GATSBY?
Where is the black TINTIN?
Where is the black GANDALF?
Quick, get some white guy who can write to change these narratives!
NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!
I suggest a trade. Elba can play James Bond if Emma Stone plays Lt. Uhura in the next Star Trek movie. Deal?
That’s the truth. Some things are better left alone.
It has to do with history. We KNOW Bond is white (besides, how many black Brits are there?). This has been the meme for 50 years.
I wasn’t too happy they made the guy blonde.
It has to do with history. We KNOW Bond is white (besides, how many black Brits are there?).
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According to the 2011 census, close to 2 million or about 3 percent of the population.
Yea, I know you don’t really care.
James Bond in movies has changed dramatically over the years.
No reason the newest one couldn’t be black, or Asian, or any other race.
I'm just tired of seeing him cry, whine, piss and moan every time his feelings get hurt by society.
This touchy-feely crap does not belong in a James Bond movie or book.
Let' get back to the real Bond...James Bond.
Ian Fleming would not be happy with the caricature he has become.
Or for that matter, a woman, or a gay, or a synthetic human, or a quadriplegic.
If you're going to mess up an icon, why not go for the gold? I don't much care what the movie industry wastes its money making - I won't watch anyway.
Can you imagine Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, or Timothy Dalton performing this chase scene?
I could see Connery doing that one but none of the others. Sean was the best and will always BE Bond... James Bond. But I’ve really liked the Daniel Craig character. To me it was a re-boot that came back to the more believable edgy hero. I’d love to see another with Daniel Craig but I guess he’s getting too old so they need another new one? I just can’t see a non-white being accepted as Bond. I’m sure many would praise publicly but I don’t think the Bond lovers would accept it.
Ja’ames Bond
His type has been a bit different, but basically he’s always been a non-fat brunette white English guy.
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