The internet is buzzing after reports surfaced last week that British actress Lashana Lynch has been cast as 007 in the next James Bond film, however, an Australian columnist has slammed the decision, saying: “There is nothing empowering for women about suddenly making 007 a female.”
Changing a male lead to a female is nothing new … first, Ghost Busters, Oceans 11 and then Doctor Who made the switch.
While Lynch will take on the role of the legendary British MI6 agent, the actress, best known for her supporting role in recent flick Captain Marvel, will not be playing the character of James Bond. As the Daily Mail reported, “she’s not the new Bond, but a new character who takes over his secret agent number after he leaves MI6”.
But according to Lucy Carne, the franchise does not need to be “vaccinated against toxic masculinity to make a #metoo moralistic point”.
“We have officially reached peak political correctness and I, for one, am done,” she wrote in The Daily Telegraph.
“Reboots of classics like Charlie’s Angels, in which crime-fighting masterminds have always been women, is the right way to go. Simply slapping a woman in a role written by a man for men, is not.”
As she goes on, her argument intensifies, as she states it’s also insulting to imply that women somehow need a female 007, adding: “As though by suddenly having a girl-powered spy, the self-esteem of women around the world will be buoyed.
“We have a problem with violence and misogyny against women in our society, but vapid PC statements like a female 007 only serve to silence any valid discussion on the issue.”
It’s not the first time the lady-loving spy has been targeted by the PC brigade as people previously claimed Bond sets a bad example to young boys by failing to get clear consent before romping. Last year, A UK charity called for the world famous spy to stop forcing himself on women and to get an “enthusiastic yes” before having sex.
The Family Planning Association (FPA) charity wants Bond — and other TV and film characters — to ask for consent before any on-screen sexual activity takes place, as part of its ‘Consent: Yes, yes, yes!’ campaign.
Read more: Judi Dench slams PC plans for James Bond
Meanwhile, it comes after Judi Dench shot down a campaign for a female actress to play the iconic spy. The actress, who has played M (head of the Secret Intelligence Service) in eight James Bond films, has said that Bond should always be a man.
Asked if she would like see a female lead, Dench said: “Not much, no. I think it should be a man. But who knows,” The Sun reported.