Geoffrey Moore Says Female 00 Agent Could Work, But Not as Bond

Geoffrey “Jaffa” Moore, the son of the late James Bond actor Roger Moore, has shared his opinion on a female-led movie for the iconic spy series.

The James Bond franchise, based on the novels by Ian Fleming, has enthralled audiences since Sean Connery’s debut in 1962’s Dr. No. As the franchise looks for its next lead actor, some people have suggested that a female Bond could bring more diversity and relevance to the series. A few years ago, X-Files star Gillian Anderson even expressed her interest in playing the role.

Geoffrey Moore shared his views on the issue in a recent interview with Express . He maintained that Fleming’s Bond should always be a male character, but he also proposed that a female-led spinoff could work if it featured a different 00 agent.

He said that the 007 title should be exclusive to the male character. His remarks are as follows:

Well, then it’s no longer James Bond. I mean, she could be 006, 008 or 009. In the last Bond, I think [Lashana Lynch being 007 temporarily] was the confusion. That she 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. I think they were also testing the waters. Maybe there will be a “From the filmmakers of James Bond comes Jane or Jemima Bond” or whatever. It wouldn’t be the same because it’s Bond. It’s Fleming’s Bond. It’s a guy, unfortunately. In today’s world, a woman would be great. If you look at Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde…I mean, woman 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. [Do women deserve their own, equally successful franchise?] It’s right, and they should. But if you want to do a female Bond, you can’t just call her “James Bond.” Personally, I don’t think that would work.

The possibility of a female-led Bond sparked a lot of debate among industry insiders and loyal fans of the franchise. While some, like former 007 star Pierce Brosnan, have welcomed the idea, others have argued that James Bond should always be portrayed as a male. Bond producer Barbara Broccoli has also stated that she agrees with the latter and that she will not cast a female actor in the role.

Although a female Bond is unlikely, the franchise has already introduced two potential female-led movies with 2021’s No Time To Die.

If a spinoff movie featuring another 00 agent were to happen, many would consider Lashana Lynch’s MI-6 agent Nomi.

Ana de Armas’ CIA agent Paloma is another possible contender for a James Bond spinoff movie. De Armas has shown herself to be a rising action star, and she has the audience appeal, the lethal skill and the charm to lead a new series in the James Bond universe. It is uncertain if a female-led spinoff will ever happen, but the potential is already there.

About James Bond Franchise

James Bond films are the longest continually running film series of all time and have grossed over US$7.04 billion in total, making it the sixth-highest-grossing film series to date, which started in 1962 with Dr. No, starring Sean Connery as Bond. As of 2021, there have been twenty-five films in the Eon Productions series. The most recent Bond film, No Time to Die (2021), stars Daniel Craig in his fifth portrayal of Bond; he is the sixth actor to play Bond in the Eon series.