Update: Recently while guesting on the early morning talk show Good Morning America to promote her new film BLACK AND BLUE, James Bond series actress Naomie Harris said that Bond producers passed on the concept of a spinoff featuring her character, Ms. Moneypenny. For a time, Harris has been speaking with MOONLIGHT director Barry Jenkins about developing a solo vehicle for the savvy private secretary to MI6 leader M, though it appears as if now might not be the time for Moneypenny to take center stage.
“He’s wanted to do a badass, kick-ass action thing with Moneypenny, which I’m all for,” Harris said. “I got together with our producer, Barbara Broccoli, and was like ‘Let’s make this happen.’ But she wasn’t so down for it. But maybe, one day, who knows. The conversation has started at least, and we’re continuing it here.”
You can check out Harris' Good Morning America spot where she talks about the Ms. Moneypenny concept below:
Original Article:
While Hollywood continues to strive toward developing more female-led films for the big screen, a recent report hailing from ComingSoon.net suggests that a James Bond spinoff featuring Naomie Harris' Moneypenny could be on the table. Recently while speaking with the SKYFALL actress about her Bond character, Eve Moneypenny, Harris let it drop that MOONLIGHT helmer Barry Jenkins is interested in exploring a project that finds her field agent turned secretary at the center of her own death-defying mission.
“Actually, Barry Jenkins, the director of ‘Moonlight,’ he always said that he wanted to do a Moneypenny spin-off, so maybe…” Harris stated. When prompted for more details, Harris was asked if Jenkins was on speaking terms with EON Productions, the puppetmaster of all things Bond . “I did. I got him together with Barbara [Broccoli], and they had a little discussion, but nothing’s happened so far, but you never know.”
As it happens, Broccoli has had a female-led Bond spinoff in her cross-hairs for quite sometime, and if I had to plunk my money down on someone who could get the project up and running, it's Barry Jenkins. After all, Jenkins directed the powerful drama MOONLIGHT, which went on to win the Oscar for Best Picture at the 2017 Academy Awards. After that, Jenkins helmed IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK, another eye-opening feature that earned Regina King an Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in 2019.
For the moment, Harris is also in talks to star as Shriek in the Andy Serkis-directed VENOM sequel. Frances Barrison, aka Shriek, made her first appearance in the pages of Spider-Man Unlimited #1 (circa May, 1993). According to MarvelFandom.com: During her childhood, Frances was abused by her mother for being overweight, driving her to drugs and leading to her later fixation on becoming a mother herself. She became a drug dealer, which exposed her to situations that ultimately damaged her sanity; namely, being shot in the head by a police officer, and being put in Cloak's Darkforce Dimension, which awakened Shriek's latent mutant abilities. Armed with lethal sonic powers, Shriek has served as something of a love interest for Carnage, one of Eddie Brock and Venom's most dangerous adversaries.
“I’m in discussions at the moment, because I love the franchise, and I worked with Andy Serkis before, twice now, and Woody Harrelson at the very start of my career*, so I love those guys, and I’d love to work with them, but let’s see what happens,” Harris told ComingSoon.net about her potentially stepping onto Tom Hardy's symbiotic scene.
Would you be game for a Bond spinoff featuring Naomie Harris' Moneypenny? Do you think the character has what it takes to lead her own film? Let us know what's on your mind in the comments section below.