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Iconic actress tells 'James Bond' star to his face: 'James Bond has to be a guy'
Progressive writers should stay away from the "James Bond" series, according to one of the industry's most celebrated actresses.
For years, critics have wondered how long it would take for the iconic macho character to become a feminist version of himself or be portrayed by a woman entirely.
Even actor Pierce Brosnan, who portrayed the spy four times between 1995 and 2002, suggested the iconic character should be played by a female because he would find it "exhilarating."
"Get out of the way, guys, and put a woman up there," Brosnan said in September 2019.
Now, Brosnan's own co-star is telling him the beloved character cannot be played by a woman, ever.
'James Bond has to be James Bond; otherwise it becomes something else.'
During an interview for the upcoming film "The Thursday Murder Club," Brosnan was asked to reflect on what the Bond character means to him after all this time.
However, it was his recent co-star and revered actress Helen Mirren who stole the headlines and put her foot down on the character.
At 80, Mirren plays a retired spy in her new movie and was asked by outlet Saga if the female spy is a "better portrayal" of the world of espionage than 007 is.
"So many women have worked in that world. She's a manifestation of a reality, that's for sure," Mirren said, before dropping the hammer on the reporter. "More realistic. But not so much fun as Bond! I'm such a feminist, but James Bond has to be a guy. You can't have a woman. It just doesn't work."
Mirren added that if you turn Bond into a woman, the movie franchise would shift entirely.
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"James Bond has to be James Bond; otherwise it becomes something else," Mirren declared.
Brosnan, on the other hand, seemingly reversed his commentary from 2019 and stated he is "so excited to see the next man come on the stage."
"I adore the world of James Bond. It's been very good to me," the 72-year- old continued, explaining that he is just a member of the audience now. "It's the gift that keeps giving."
Despite Brosnan's apparent change in opinion, the Bond franchise creators have been much less forgiving to the media when it comes to what gender James Bond can be.
About five months after Brosnan's feminist comments, sentiments of a she-Bond were shut down by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, relatives of the original spy movie producer, Albert R. Broccoli.
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"He can be of any color, but he is male," Barbara Broccoli told Variety in December 2019. "I believe we should be creating new characters for women — strong female characters. I'm not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that."
The series flirted with a change in 2021's "No Time to Die," actor Daniel Craig's last foray as the lead character. Actress Lashana Lynch became 007 in Bond's absence during the film, meaning technically 007 was a woman, but the character of James Bond was not.
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Chris Pratt mocks Trump haters for being 'allergic' to good policy, defends RFK Jr.
Actor Chris Pratt says it's not hard for him to back Robert F. Kennedy Jr., despite him being a member of the Trump administration.
Pratt is married to Katherine Schwarzenegger, whose mother, Maria Shriver, is part of the Kennedy family. This has put the actor in close reach of RFK Jr., the United States secretary of Health and Human Services.
Comedian Bill Maher recently asked Pratt about his connection to the Kennedys and wanted to know what type of criticism he has faced over the relationship.
'I'll put Clorox in my children's cereal myself!'
Pratt opined that the media has taken a lot of shots at him and others through unnamed sources that he believes do not exist at all.
"In politics, you inherit enemies," he told Maher on "Club Random." "And when you jump in on the bandwagon with the most divisive president ever, it makes sense that you're going to be made to look terrible."
Both Maher and Pratt agreed that there is something the media cannot take away from RFK Jr.: He is fighting big industry on behalf of the American people. Particularly, as Maher described, Kennedy Jr. is over the target regarding toxic ingredients in food and pharmaceuticals being used by children.
Still, Pratt said he finds it nonsensical for anyone to criticize the HHS secretary simply for being in Trump's orbit.
"I'd hate to be so mired in hatred for the president that any success from his administration is something I'd have an allergic reaction to — to be like, 'Oh, well, if they do it, I don't want it to happen. I'll put Clorox in my children's cereal myself!'" he joked with Maher.
Putting it simply, Pratt explained that a lot of discourse could emerge just from the two political sides being somewhat reasonable.
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"You know, it's like, come on, be reasonable here," Pratt added. "There are certain things that would be a good thing to have. I want them all to be successful," he said of the Trump administration.
Pratt and Maher had a lot to agree on during the podcast, especially when it came to supporting American troops. Maher revealed that his parents met in the U.S. Army, and despite not always agreeing with foreign policy, he has always had a "soft spot" for the Army.
In the same breath, Maher had a strong message for those who label the U.S. as a horrible place to live.
"If you think we're the worst country in the world, then just f**king do some research. Just f**king noodle around the internet. You will find a lot of people who did a lot of worse things," he said.
The host and his guest then shared a unique perspective about being a media figure that has the luxury, or curse, of being able to read about themselves through the eyes of others.
"Politics, it's a nasty business," Pratt declared. "I've seen how the person you are can be such a contrast to the person that people are being told that you are."
At the same time, the actor said he would only be doing himself a disservice if he were to constantly rebuke claims that are made in the media.
"Proverb 26:20, 'For lack of wood the fire will go out,'" Pratt cited, explaining that he would rather let something that's "not real" be "liked" by 300,000 people than address the fake claim to 50 million people.
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Denzel Washington crushes reporter who asks about 'black cast' members: 'I follow the Lord. That's it'
Denzel Washington does not care about social media, followers, or the idea that he could be canceled.
The iconic actor took part in a press junket for his new film, "Highest 2 Lowest," along with director Spike Lee, which included multiple questions about social media followings and public perception.
While Lee has historically been more controversial than the actor, the pair have worked together on many well-received movies and seemingly formed such a strong bond that Washington had no problem taking the lead on many of the more poignant questions they were asked.
Washington first showed reporters that he is not the biggest fan of today's media landscape when he was asked about having a mostly black cast in his upcoming movie.
'You just have to do something stupid. You just have to get people to follow you.'
"You have never shied away from starring or acting, producing, directing films with a predominantly black cast," Associated Press reporter Gary Gerard Hamilton prompted the actor. The reporter then asked Washington what allowed him to be "unafraid of tackling those projects."
Washington immediately pointed out that he cares about talent, not what other people think.
"Well, it's a different time when I started. I'm not concerned with what people think about me. I don't care about that. Especially now. When I was younger, you didn't, you know, I didn't grow up like your generation is growing up where a zillion people are watching you all the time and you're looking to be followed all the time. And, you know, you actually had to be good at what you did," he said.
"You don't have to be good now," Washington continued. "You just have to be eccentric. You just have to do something stupid. You just have to get people to follow you."
It was at that point director Lee knew exactly how to set up his pal to hit another home run.
"Who were you following, too, right?" Lee asked Washington.
Washington answered, "I'm a leading man, you know. I don't follow nobody. I follow the Lord. That's it. That's the only following I'm doing is my Lord and savior Jesus Christ. I'm not following anybody else on this planet. Period."
Washington's takedown of the leading questions would soon get a follow-up when he was similarly approached by a different reporter.
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The next day, Complex News released its own interview with Lee and Washington, featuring journalist Jillian Hardeman-Webb. The reporter went down a similar line of questioning with the 68- and 70-year-olds, respectively. However, she, too, found out the hard way that Washington is not concerned with anyone's critiques.
"Do you guys consider being 'canceled'?" Hardeman-Webb asked.
"What does that mean? To be canceled?" Washington chimed back.
"It means you lose public support," the reporter explained.
"Who cares?" Washington replied. "What made public support so important to begin with?"
Hardeman-Webb attempted to explain that "followers now are currency," but by this point she had already unlocked another one of Washington's epic rants about who and what he is willing to follow.
"I don't care who's following who. Okay? You can't lead and follow at the same time, and you can't follow and lead at the same time. I don't follow anybody. I follow the heavenly spirit," Washington declared.
The veteran performer continued to preach to the journalist, who is reportedly 29 years old, about why he follows God.
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"I follow God," Washington exclaimed. "I don't follow man. I have faith in God. I have hope in man, but look around — it ain't working out so well."
He concluded, "Forget being followed. You can't be canceled if you haven't signed up. Don't sign up. Don't get me started. ... I could care less."
What stood out in both interviews was each reporter taking in Washington's remarks and seemingly having a positive reaction to his religious sentiments.
While many people may still have many lessons to learn about follower "currency," Washington's injection of an alternative view of social media and its surrounding culture should only deepen the conversation about the actual need for personal branding.
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