Set photos from James Bond 25 show new 007 Lashana Lynch sporting action gear during the movie’s Italian shoot. The 25th entry in the very long-running Bond series recently received the official title No Time to Die. Though Daniel Craig returns as Bond, the movie reportedly features a new female secret agent who carries Bond’s old code number 007.
Speculation about the possibility of a female 007 has of course been going on for years, with everyone from Charlize Theron to Emily Blunt to Claire Foy being fan cast in the role. But when the time came for a woman to finally earn the 007 designation, Lynch was the one to receive the honor. Prior to snagging her role in No Time to Die, the actress was best-known for playing Air Force pilot Maria Rambeau in the 2019 Marvel blockbuster Captain Marvel.
Ever since Lynch’s casting was announced, Bond fans have been wondering what the new female 007 will look like in action. Now they’ve gotten their first glimpse via a series of set photos posted to The Daily Mail. In the photos, Lynch’s character Nomi can be seen looking every bit the secret agent in dark blue gear, toting a machine gun and wearing an ear piece in her left ear.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BOND 25 SET PHOTOS
The new set of photos was taken in Matera, Italy, where the 25th Bond movie has been shooting some of its biggest action scenes. These particular images show both Lynch and Lea Seydoux, who reprises the role of Dr. Madeleine Swann from Spectre, on a beach working together with director Cary Fukunaga and other members of the crew. The Daily Mail’s report says that during the shoot, Seydoux could be seen talking into a walkie talkie while Lynch “stalked” down the beach. Craig himself is not featured in the shots, but The Daily Mail reports that Bond’s iconic Aston Martin DB5 has been seen during other shooting in the same area, and also reports that Craig and Seydoux shot a kissing scene in Matera last week.
It is of course unusual for Bond to have a non-MI6 character like Swann carry over for more than one movie, but No Time to Die figures to be a mold breaker in more ways than one. Perhaps the biggest change-up from prior Bond productions is the presence of Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who was brought on to give a more feminine perspective to the script. Indeed, the Bond series has long been criticized for its outdated, sexist attitudes, but it seems producers are serious about rectifying that situation this time around. Giving a woman the 007 designation is of course a big part of this make-over as well. It remains to be seen though if Lynch will keep the 007 code number beyond James Bond 25, or if her casting was just a one-movie gimmick pulled off in hopes of boosting a series whose reputation has taken many a hit in recent years (even if its worldwide box office performance has remained very strong).
More: Why A Female James Bond Is So Controversial (& Why It Doesn’t Really Matter)
Source: The Daily Mail
- Bond 25 Release Date: 2021-10-08
