Time’s Up for Bond girls?
007 may have met his match as the 25th feature enters the era of the #MeToo movement
It appears that Time’s Up for James Bond. The character once described by Dame Judi Dench’s M as a “sexist, misogynist dinosaur” will finally meet his match in the #MeToo era, according to filmmakers.
Bond girls in the next film will be written with “the modern world” in mind, said Danny Boyle, who confirmed last week that he was working on the 25th instalment of the franchise.
The Oscar-winning director of Slumdog Millionaire and mastermind of the 2012 London Olympics opening-ceremony was asked if Bond girls would be depicted in a different light, bearing in mind the current Time’s Up campaign against sexual harassment in the workplace.
“You write in real time,” Boyle said. “You acknowledge the legacy of the world [of Bond]... but you also write in the modern world as well.”
Boyle has not been announced officially as the director of Bond 25. But
at a screening of his new television drama, Trust , he confirmed he was developing a script with John Hodge, his writing partner on past films including Shallow Grave, Trainspotting and The Beach.
When Ursula Andress emerged from the sea as Honey Ryder in the 1962 film Dr No, she set the Bond girl template: stunning looks, silly name and very small items of clothing.
Ryder at least waited until the end of the film to fall into the arms of 007. As the franchise wore on, only the briefest of introductions was required. The workplace was no barrier: Pierce Brosnan’s Bond seduced Dr Molly Warmflash, MI6’s medical officer, during a check-up.
He later followed it up with Sophie Marceau in the same film, The World
Is Not Enough. Despite the franchise taking a grittier turn since Daniel Craig stepped into the role, Bond’s treatment of women has not escaped criticism. In the 2012 film Skyfall, his character seduced a victim of trafficking.
The filmmakers say they have taken steps to turn Bond girls into strong, independent women.
In 2015, they made much of the fact that 50-year-old Monica Bellucci had been cast in
Spectre as the widow of a crime boss. Although she was only four years older than Craig, Bellucci recalled that Sam Mendes, the film’s director, had told her: “For the first time in history, James Bond is going to have a story with a mature woman. The concept is revolutionary.”
Her role in the film, when unveiled, came as a disappointment to critics.
“Despite what the build-up led you to believe, Bellucci’s part is in keeping with the antiquated role of the Bond girl,” said one.
Craig’s love interest in that film was Lea Seydoux, who said her character would be “very different”. Nevertheless, the time elapsed between her telling 007, “Come anywhere near me and I’ll kill you,” and surrendering to his charms was 15 minutes.
Craig has confirmed he will play Bond for a fifth time and will be 51 years old when the new film comes out in November next year. He had previously said he would rather slash his wrists than reprise the role.
“You acknowledge the legacy of the world [of Bond]... but you also write in the modern world as well.” DANNY BOYLE | Director (right)