Danny Boyle: ‘James Bond 25′ will probably have more Me Too-friendly Bond Girls
March 18, 2018Oscar-winner Danny Boyle has been confirmed as the writer-director for the new James Bond film, which is currently going by Bond 25. I’m glad they’re not bringing back Sam Mendes, who I generally like as a director, but who was ill-suited for the Bond franchise. Mendes made everything SO dark (like, literally, the scenes were not properly lit) and the stories suffered under the Mendes reign. While Skyfall made a ton of money and had an okay story, Spectre was utter garbage. So it’s good that Boyle is being brought in to not just direct, but write the script. Daniel Craig is obviously coming back, because of course. But what about the Bond Girls? Well, Boyle says that in this modern age, maybe the Bond stories need to reflect #MeToo and #TimesUp. Um…?
“Trust” producer and director Danny Boyle has confirmed he’s working on the next James Bond movie — and confirms he is looking at the “modern world” when it comes to the portrayal of women. After being asked if Bond Girls could be depicted in a different light in the #MeToo and Time’s Up era, Boyle told Page Six on Thursday, “You write in real time…. You acknowledge the legacy of the world [of Bond] and you write in the world — but you also write in the modern world as well.”
Of any specifics of his female Bond characters, he said, “I can’t tell you yet, will report back later.”
While female Bond characters have shed their innuendo-laden names and become more feisty over the years, we’ve yet to encounter one who is truly Bond’s equal. Dame Judi Dench’s M — Bond’s boss — was killed off in “Skyfall.” Although we’re not yet near a female Bond, the currently called “Bond 25” project is said to be Daniel Craig’s final 007 role and the search is on for the next male star to lead the franchise.
Boyle had said of his Bond movie, “We are working on a script right now,” with his frequent collaborator John Hodge. But he added of directing the closely guarded franchise, “It all depends . . . I am working on a Richard Curtis script at the moment. We hope to start shooting that in six or seven weeks. Then, Bond would be right at the end of the year.”
For all the conversations about who should or who will take over as Bond when Daniel Craig is done, it’s sort of ridiculous how the “who should WRITE the new Bond story?” is basically an afterthought for Barbara Broccoli. While I respect Danny Boyle enough to trust that he’ll care about the story, it also seems very fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants. Bond 25 starts filming later this year and the script is being treated like an afterthought!
As for Bond Girls in the Me Too era… I mean… ??? Bond Girls are, by their nature, a regressive trope. But maybe the best way to write Bond Girls with modern sensibilities is to – perhaps? – get a female writer in there? Or maybe give James someone to talk to who he doesn’t end up banging and leaving? It’s really not that hard (that’s what she said).
Photos courtesy of Getty.