Jenna Ortega has issued a rallying cry for an abundance of franchises solely helmed by female protagonists, transcending mere female-centric spinoffs. In a lively video interview with MTV amidst the promotional blitz for "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice," Ortega was posed the intriguing question of whether she would entertain an offer from the eccentric director Tim Burton to reboot "Edward Scissorhands" as the gender-bending Edith Scissorhands. However, Ortega's aspirations lie beyond such transformations, yearning to spearhead a franchise as a wholly original, empowering character.
"I'm thrilled to see the surge of female leads in today's landscape; it's truly remarkable. But it's paramount that we forge our own paths," Ortega enthused. "I'm not a fan of the spinoff route—I don't envision a 'Jamie Bond,' if you catch my drift. I crave the introduction of another fierce, unapologetic heroine."
Fortunately, for fans of the iconic James Bond franchise, concerns over a gender swap are unwarranted, as its stalwart producer, Barbara Broccoli, has consistently affirmed that 007 will forever remain a male character. With Daniel Craig's departure after "No Time to Die" in 2021, the search for a new Bond is underway, and Broccoli remains resolute.
"I firmly believe the next Bond should be a man, as I don't think a woman should embody James Bond," Broccoli declared to The Hollywood Reporter in 2021. "I'm passionate about creating roles tailored for women, not merely casting them in male-dominated parts. The industry lacks sufficient compelling roles for women, and it's vital that we craft movies centered around and celebrating them. As for Bond, he must be British, a designation that embraces diversity in ethnicity and race."
Echoing this sentiment, Ana de Armas, who shared the screen with Craig in "No Time to Die," concurred with The Sun, asserting, "A female Bond isn't necessary. There's no need to appropriate someone else's character; it's a novel-turned-franchise, a fantasy universe where Bond reigns supreme."
De Armas further elaborated, "What I long for is for female roles in Bond films to breathe new life, even as Bond remains a man. Let them be granted more substantial roles and recognition. That, to me, is far more intriguing than flipping the script."
Daniel Craig himself chimed in during a Radio Times interview, offering a succinct yet profound perspective: "The solution is straightforward. We need to create better roles for women and actors of color. Why adapt James Bond for a woman when we can devise a part equally as captivating, tailored exclusively for her?"
