Poll: Should there be a black bond?

[GuerrillaClock]

No, as was previously mentioned it would be an example of political correctness gone mad, not to mention probably a little patronising. I would definitely be bothered, because Bond's character is fixed as a suave white male who likes a Martini, shaken not stirred and the odd beautiful woman every now and then. James Bond is a white man, and there is no reason whatsoever this should be changed.

 

[Galletea]

Not trying to be racist, but Bond is a white male, wouldn't a black male mess up the continuity?

There is no continuity in the novels. Bond isn't even necessarily a real name, and there hasn't been any continuity in the acting thus far. One of the only real reasons he was not written as black was that the first novel was published in the 1950s and I don't think there were many black protagonists at that point in time.

 

[chimmers]

I kinda liked the new black Felix from the movies.

Yeah he works ok black, mostly because he is a fairly minor character. But I couldn't help but laugh when I first saw Casino Royale, because in the book Felix is described as being able to connect well with Negroes, or something like that

Bond being black would completely change storylines (might be a good thing seeing as they have run out of books though...)

 

[Johnn Johnston]

I've got nothing against there being a black guy in a lead role in a film, but the character of Bond is a white, middle-aged man. I admit that M still being Dame Judy Dench in the latest two totally threw a spanner into the continuity, but I don't think that matters as much as changing the colour of the protagonist's skin.

 

[Penitent]

Before we ask if there should be a black Bond, let's honestly ask this: why should there be a black Bond?

Seriously...

 

[AuntyEthel]

I think we are years away from seeing a black bond. In this country we don't have any other black people in top spying positions. Until we have a black Man from U.N.C.L.E or a black Saint i don't think we'll ever see a black bond.

Err... there is a black saint. He's called Moses the black.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

This is retarded. Bond is a well established character...we know what he looks like.

 

[KSarty]

There is no continuity in the novels. Bond isn't even necessarily a real name, and there hasn't been any continuity in the acting thus far. One of the only real reasons he was not written as black was that the first novel was published in the 1950s and I don't think there were many black protagonists at that point in time.

Yeah, I'm sure Fleming originally intended to make Bond black, but decided not to because of the current social norms.

Before we ask if there should be a black Bond, let's honestly ask this: why should there be a black Bond?

Seriously, this guy hit it perfectly. Why would he be black. If him being white is such a minute attribute to you people, then why are you pushing for him to black.

 

[nathan-dts]

The simple answer is 'no'; there is no questioning it, it's nothing to do with religion, ethnicity etc. It's about countless movies of James Bond in which he has always been white.

Whatever the first actors ethnicity was should be stook with for all Bond films.

 

[Galletea]

There is no continuity in the novels. Bond isn't even necessarily a real name, and there hasn't been any continuity in the acting thus far. One of the only real reasons he was not written as black was that the first novel was published in the 1950s and I don't think there were many black protagonists at that point in time.

Yeah, I'm sure Fleming originally intended to make Bond black, but decided not to because of the current social norms.

I'm merely saying that the social norm was that and that in a modern day setting there is no reason not to make him black.
Oh and I'm not pushing for him to be black, I could care less, I hate James Bond, I just see no reason to ensure that he stays white.

 

[santaandy]

As Bond is British, I have nothing against Bond being any of the cultural subgroups there, including Chinese or Indian. We've already had Scottish and English, why not something else? Such would be far less important than writing a proper story, mind you. CR = good, QoS = boring.

 

[Susan Arendt]

For folks citing Bond's womanizing as one of his immutable traits, had you not noticed how drastically that part of his personality got toned down after AIDS became a worldwide epidemic? The producers felt that it was inappropriate and irresponsible for Bond to be shagging everyone that would stay still long enough in the new social climate. So the character changed, despite his ladykilling ways being part of Fleming's original vision.

Is there anything wrong with Bond staying white? No, of course not. That is, after all, the way the character was originally written. But I think what matters most is that the actor embodies the spirit of the character, Bond's particular world view and attitude, and I see no reason that a man of any particular color couldn't pull that off.

 

[Xaryn Mar]

I wouldn't like a black James Bond. James Bond is (as has been said before) a white English gentleman. I wouldn't mind a black 007 though, since that is just a codename but the character James Bond should stay white.

 

[SenseOfTumour]

I have no problem whatsoever with a cultured, classy, womanising black hero spy.

But it's not Bond.

It seems the only argument we have for a black Bond is 'well we could do it, so we should, anyone who doesn't agree is omg racist!'.

I had no problem with XXX going from Vin Diesel to Ice Cube between the first movie and the sequel, but that didn't have a huge series of books and about 20 movies behind it.

I was admittedly even a little sceptical about Daniel Craig taking over, and no, not just because he was blonde.

But the point is, a character can change, even gender or race, Bond is a legend, not just a character to be messed with on a whim.

 

[KSarty]

I wouldn't like a black James Bond. James Bond is (as has been said before) a white English gentleman. I wouldn't mind a black 007 though, since that is just a codename but the character James Bond should stay white.

Thats actually a very reasonable compromise. A black 007, but not James Bond.

 

[Thesreyn]

Feel free to have a black movie character as popular, suave and awesome as James Bond.

But James Bond is British, white and played best by Sean Connery (Which is Ironic due to the british thing). He always has been.

Seriously this isn't going to make Bond better, this is just going to attack creativity. "Why make new and totally different films when we can just change the ethnicity of the main character and call it the same thing but propagate it as something new entirely".

So basically I agree with the OP.

--Edit--

Reading some other replies, James Bond is not his actual name. It is also part of his cover, along with the code name 007.

That being said, a black double-o would be cool, but if you throw them into a Bond movie, they're going to be taking second place beside the main star and if you make them their own movie it's going to look like a cheesy attempt at being politically correct at best, and highly racist because the developers thought it would be funny to throw in some fried chicken at worst.

 

[Amnestic]

But James Bond is British, white and played best by Sean Connery (Which is Ironic due to the british thing). He always has been.

Pierce Brosnan is Irish, Ireland notably not being part of Great Britain. Scotland however is part of Great Britain, so I'm not quite sure how it's ironic that Sean Connery was supposedly the best Bond.

 

[Zeke109]

No, because it would be an obvious attempt to make everything stupidly politically correct.

Affirmative action.