MOVIE NEWS – The next James Bond will be in his 30s and will be a man, in case you were worried…

Change can be scary. Change can be exhausting. Change can be many things – often necessary and good. But one thing isn’t changing around here anytime soon: Bond. James Bond. The secret agent whose sexy and exciting cinematic adventures have lit up the big screen for decades will soon be played by a new actor.

For those who were worried about who would take on the mantle, fear not: it will still be a man.

In a new interview with The Independent, the franchise’s producers, Barbara Broccoli and her brother, Michael G. Wilson, the daughter and stepson of the late James Bond producer Albert “Cuddy” Broccoli, share their thoughts on what’s ahead for them and how they’re handling the transition from Daniel Craig to whoever will next take on the role.

For the siblings, James Bond has always been about change and a new perspective. “Every time we cast a new actor, the films change,” Wilson explained. “It’s the excitement of a new Bond, a new direction; every one of these people who took on the role offered something new and different.”

Who will step into the James Bond suit next?

Several names have been floated in recent months, including Theo James, a potentially ageing Henry Cavill, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Idris Elba was one of the frontrunners for years — though he was controversial for a specific group of fans because he’s not white.

Still, the fraternal guardians of the Bond franchise — one of the longest-running film series in history — are willing to take some risks in shaping the future of James Bond, given the state of the Hollywood industry.

“People are playing it very safe,” Broccoli said of the current state of filmmaking. “I think in times of crisis like this, you’ve got to be brave. It’s certainly a new era in the movie business, so we’re trying to figure it out.”

“It’s a big decision,” he added.

There’s one thing, though, that Broccoli and Wilson aren’t so bold about, and that’s changing James Bond’s gender. The duo confirmed that 007 will remain a man, likely in his 30s, for at least the next 10 years of films. According to the Independent:

“They’ve teased some things: It will be a man. He’ll likely be in his 30s. Whiteness is not a given. And whoever says yes is doing so with the expectation of at least a decade’s worth of films. One thing is certain: There’s going to be a period of adjustment for audiences in the transition. Every Bond had its detractors, especially at the start.”

Since their father and Harry Saltzman bought the rights to Ian Fleming’s spy novels in 1961, the 25 subsequent film adaptations have grossed more than $7.6 billion at the box office worldwide. Despite major changes, including new corporate executives, the franchise has managed to remain a family business (more or less), which is no small feat, all things considered.

Source: The Independent