The next James Bond is....

[Nostalgiabuff]

Idris Elba?
so with the Sony hack, apparently some of the emails leaked were that execs want Idris Elba as the next Bond.

I know we have had these discussions before, but I am so sick of this PC . Elba is a fine actor, and I am all for more diversity in movies and TV, but stop taking white characters and casting them with black actors, just to be PC. Create a new franchise and character and stop messing with beloved and established characters. I wouldn't like it any better if it was a black character being cast with a white actor. I mean what would people say if they had cast Falcon with a white actor in Winter Soldier? it would just be wrong.

I felt the same way about this new Annie movie, a character I could not care less about. But the character is supposed to be a feisty red head. If you want to do a similar story, fine, but call her something else.

[Werewolf]

I mean what would people say if they had cast Falcon with a white actor in Winter Soldier? it would just be wrong.

I'm not particularly fond of modern updates to iconic and classic characters, but it's not really comparable. White has long been the default for characters in movies, tv, comics, etc. So, replacing the very few iconic ethnic characters that exist with white actors results in a nearly complete erasure.

[palitoy]

I wish we'd stop saying studios are being "PC". It's a major franchise and the studio is a business, if they didn't think it would make money, they wouldn't consider it. When I saw Iron Man 3, the three young men behind me were all talking about War Machine, as the lights came up, I noticed they were all Sikhs, to them, the movie was all about Don Cheadle.

Elba is a bit old for the part IMO, although I'd go see a black Bond, Doctor Who or ...well, I'd leave probably leave Superman the way he is.

As for of the argument of "what if they took a black superhero", there are so precious few versus the legion of caucasian characters. That may play in the comics but this is movies and diversity helps sell tickets.

I know a grown man who is just...spitting mad about this Annie thing. I'm not sure a grown man should care if the cast of Annie is filled with Chinese dwarves, even my daughter, who is nine and a fan of the 80s film isn't excited about this. There is a big budget Annie movie already, the new version will not make people forget it and perhaps this movie will turn a new generation on to the character.

[Werewolf]

I know a grown man who is just...spitting mad about this Annie thing.

That is a bit odd. My Mom grew up with Annie and listened to the show on the radio and she bought me a Annie doll when I was little. Nether of us care.

[Hedji]

I would love to see a black Batman. For some reason, I think it could be really cool.

[starsky]

i still say will smith didn't cut it as james west.

[palitoy]

i still say will smith didn't cut it as james west.

Hardly controversial, I think he might agree with you.

[Werewolf]

You know what would have saved that movie? Polar Bear fight. They are the fiercest killers in the animal kingdom.

[LonnieFisher]

I would love to see a black Batman. For some reason, I think it could be really cool.

I'd rather see him gray and blue.

[warlock664]

Breaking news: Ryan Reynolds to play title role in "Shaft" reboot !

[Gorn Captain]

So the question remains: is Daniel Craig done after SPECTRE?

[Gorn Captain]

Breaking news: Ryan Reynolds to play title role in "Shaft" reboot !

I can't wait for the White Widow & White Panther team-up movie....

[Captain Big Trousers]

I'd like to see a Vietnamese Bond.

[Gorn Captain]

I'd like to see a Vietnamese Bond.

Ok. But an elderly Vietnamese woman. In a wheelchair. Deaf and blind in one eye. And she's adopted.

Anything but a white guy in a tux, seems to be the main thing.

[PNGwynne]

I feel all I can add to this is, we still have the Fleming novels & the '60s Connery films (the source inspiration and their perfect IMO pop-culture distillation). I've long since stopped caring about cinematic Bond.

Doing an ethnic reworking of a property can be invigorating--you often see this in drama/musical. But as Palitoy has pointed out, sometimes it's just crass marketing, not inspiration or cultural sensitivity: By early accounts, the new "Annie" is leaden & joyless. It's not going to make fans forget the comics or original show.

Bear in mind, too, that when the show hit the stage in '77, some comics purists had a fit.