Roger Moore’s son: There can’t be a female Bond

As the hunt for the next James Bond continues, many have weighed in with their dream casting, with names like Idris Elba, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Paul Mescal circling the role. For some, the role is overdue to be given to somebody other than a white British dude. But what about a female Bond? Well, the idea has been shot down across the board, most recently by the son of the franchise’s most consistent 007.

In a new interview, Roger Moore’s son, Geoffrey, suggested he’s not actively against a woman playing a vital role in the franchise but that it would be impossible for there to be a female Bond, saying the code number is assigned only to James himself. “Then it’s no longer James Bond,” and thus no longer a James Bond movie. “I mean, she could be 006, 008, or 009…Maybe there will be a ‘From the filmmakers of James Bond comes Jane or Jemima Bond’ or whatever.” He added that female-led movies have their own special place in the spy genre. “I mean, women can certainly pull it off and certainly do the fight sequences…And even if not, as a species ladies are probably smarter! But in terms of the role itself, Fleming’s Bond is James Bond.”

Geoffrey Moore went on to say that he thinks the producers were feeling out a female Bond with the latest – and Daniel Craig’s final – entry, No Time to Die. “In the last Bond I think this was the confusion…That she [Lashana’s character Nomi] was 007 and then said, ‘I’ve got to give it back to Bond. It’s his number.’ “So I think that’s very good…And I think they were also testing the waters.”

The waters of a female 007 have been choppy, as numerous major franchise names have snubbed the idea. Producer Barbara Broccoli (also the daughter of famed Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli) expected Craig’s successor to be male “because I don’t think a woman should play James Bond. I believe in making characters for women and not just having women play men’s roles.” Meanwhile, Craig himself said, “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?” Ana de Armas, who played Paloma in No Time to Die, also pointed out that “flipping things” would only take away heft from other female roles in the series. For what it’s worth, she’s pulling for Paul Mescal to take over.

Do you think there could ever be enough support for a permanent female 007? If so, who could you see stepping into the role? Let us know!