I sincerely hope we're done with Shaft movies.

well, to be honest, I kinda feel the same way about Bond movies.

My sister told me he was the bookie favourite!

I think this is where the rumour came from. A number of suspiciously large bets were put on him a few days ago, so one of the bookmakers stopped taking bets. The others claim it's a stunt.

I kinda feel the same way about Bond movies.

I think Bond has more legs than Shaft. Shaft's not just tied to race, it's tied to a racial politics climate, which is tied to a time, which is past. If we need a new angry black American man movie, it's going to have to start from scratch with a new icon.

Bond? Potentially timeless -- just needs good stories. And, as far as I can tell, not that tied to race.

I think Don Cheadle would be a good James Bond, if we're looking at non-white guys (and I agree that James Bond doesn't need to be tied to race).

I think Don Cheadle would be a good James Bond, if we're looking at non-white guys (and I agree that James Bond doesn't need to be tied to race).

Except Cheadle is American. Do you guys have to steal everything from other countries?

Bond? Potentially timeless -- just needs good stories. And, as far as I can tell, not that tied to race.

I disagree. James Bond is a white man and should remain a white man. However, I would like to see more stories about the other Double-O agents, in which case they could have a black man.

eta: if they want to change Bond's skin colour, I'm not opposed to it entirely. However, it can't be the same "James Bond". Lord knows Bond must have a small village of illegitimate children scattered around the globe, so introduce one of his son's as a successor.

What do you think about the stories told so far that hinges on him being white? I think there are white characters, many of them in the Bondiverse (well, just about all the regulars barring, obviously, Felix Leiter), but 2004 Bond doesn't seem to require it at all.

Do you guys have to steal everything from other countries?

Yes. Just like those nasty Australians already did.

I also drool over the idea of Chow Yun Fat as Bond, but at that point you've elevated Bond to being a total icon, and loosing him from practicalities.

I don't see whiteness as a factor with Bond. Britishness, yes.

I want to see Bond partnered with a woman who can't stand him. Or a woman who tries to lure away the women who are attracted to him. The "Oh, James!" factor has mellowed in recent incarnations, but he still needs a good comeuppance. Seeing Brosnan!Bond being glared at by Dame Judi was glorious.

I had the same initial reaction as Jimi -- Bond should be white. But I don't think there's any reason for it that goes deeper than that my mental image of Bond has always been a dark-haired white man. There's no real reason he couldn't be cast as black, or Asian, or blonde for that matter.

Just like those nasty Australians already did.

Hah, back in those days Australia was still more British than anything.

Now we're slowly becoming more American than Australian.

Though we remain a Commonwealth country.

However, it's hardly a fair comparison.