James Bond is far from cinema’s most progressive hero – but the Daniel Craig era has largely sought to bring 007 into a new age, challenging and exploring his formerly cavalier attitude to certain things, women among them. And it seems that No Time To Die could shake Bond up more than ever, with one long-swirling rumour suggesting that Lashana Lynch’s incoming new 00-agent Nomi might actually have the 007 mantle at the start of the film.
Speaking in Empire’s world exclusive No Time To Die issue, Lynch responded to the rumour-mill and the wider conversation that has sprung from the prospect of a black, female 007 being part of the 25th Bond movie – though she wouldn’t confirm or deny if that was the case. “I can say that, though the reactions to such a rumour have been varied, I love that the conversation is even happening,” she says. “And I think that’s really exciting for long-running fans, new fans, but also young people that would potentially have that as not even an idea, as something that is just normal for them. That’s really special for me. Whether something like that is happening or not as a fact, at this point doesn’t even matter for me. The conversation is enough. As a fly on the social-media wall, it’s bleedin’ brilliant.”
Read more about No Time To Die in Empire’s world exclusive new issue – including new interviews with Daniel Craig, director Cary Joji Fukunaga, Bond boss Barbara Broccoli, and series newcomers Lashana Lynch and Rami Malek. Plus we have exclusive images, and globetrotting on-set access to Bond’s long-awaited comeback. Pick up a copy on newsstands from Friday 27 December.
