Is it time for a new black James Bond villain?

Comments

• Barbel ScotlandPosts: 37,870Chief of Staff

  July 2018

  There's no reason why the villain (or henchman/woman) of a Bond movie shouldn't be a black man or woman.
  
  
  
  
  
  Just as there's no reason why the female lead shouldn't be, either:
  
  
  
  Or his best pal:
  
  
  
  
  
  Or MI6 staff:
  
  
  
  Or supporting characters be they good guys:
  
  
  
  
  
  Or bad:
  
  
  
  
  
  ... and only the first pic comes from LALD, the most racially-sensitive James Bond film (or book, for that matter) since it would be ludicrous to not mention Yaphet Kotto's superb performance as Mr Big (and/or Dr Kananga) in this context. I could have used pics of other actors from that film, but preferred to point out characters from as many films as reasonable (yes, there are more).
  
  I've said this before but I'll say it again. James Bond is an equal opportunity assassin- he's killed people of all shades of skin colour and it's because they deserve it. He's also an equal opportunity lover- he has ...er... romanced (yes, that'll cover it) ladies whether they be black, white or whatever- all they have to be is drop dead gorgeous (as of course Halle Berry, Naomie Harris, etc undoubtedly are).
  
  Ian Fleming wrote his stories in a different time, when it would not be possible for a black person to be in the position of a Felix Leiter, or a Miss Moneypenny (though he did create the wonderful Quarrel who is totally believable in his context and one of my favourite characters). Those days are thankfully gone, and the films reflect this.
  
  So, long story short: absolutely a black villain but not because he's* black but because they're right for the part and the story.
  
  * or she's.
• walther p99 NJPosts: 3,416MI6 Agent

  July 2018

  Barbel wrote:

  There's no reason why the villain (or henchman/woman) of a Bond movie shouldn't be a black man or woman.
  
  
  
  
  
  Just as there's no reason why the female lead shouldn't be, either:
  
  
  
  Or his best pal:
  
  
  
  
  
  Or MI6 staff:
  
  
  
  Or supporting characters be they good guys:
  
  
  
  
  
  Or bad:
  
  
  
  
  
  ... and only the first pic comes from LALD, the most racially-sensitive James Bond film (or book, for that matter) since it would be ludicrous to not mention Yaphet Kotto's superb performance as Mr Big (and/or Dr Kananga) in this context. I could have used pics of other actors from that film, but preferred to point out characters from as many films as reasonable (yes, there are more).
  
  I've said this before but I'll say it again. James Bond is an equal opportunity assassin- he's killed people of all shades of skin colour and it's because they deserve it. He's also an equal opportunity lover- he has ...er... romanced (yes, that'll cover it) ladies whether they be black, white or whatever- all they have to be is drop dead gorgeous (as of course Halle Berry, Naomie Harris, etc undoubtedly are).
  
  Ian Fleming wrote his stories in a different time, when it would not be possible for a black person to be in the position of a Felix Leiter, or a Miss Moneypenny (though he did create the wonderful Quarrel who is totally believable in his context and one of my favourite characters). Those days are thankfully gone, and the films reflect this.
  
  So, long story short: absolutely a black villain but not because he's* black but because they're right for the part and the story.
  
  * or she's.

  Absolutely agree my friend, the best person should be chosen for the job regardless of their skin color. {[]

  @deanwdunlevy
• Number24 NorwayPosts: 22,337MI6 Agent

  July 2018

  I don't see why not. I belive Blofeld was planned to be an African warlord in early drafts of SPECTRE.
• __M__ Posts: 29MI6 Agent

  April 2021

  Is race that important?
• emtiem SurreyPosts: 5,948MI6 Agent

  April 2021 edited April 2021

  Important enough to dig up a three year-old thread on the matter?