A Plea for the #NextBond. At Least Consider Gillian Anderson, Okay?
When a campaign featuring Gillian Anderson as James (Jane?) Bond surfaced out there in the Interweb, it suddenly felt as my life had meaning. Yes, I say that in the MOST dramatic way possible but there are plenty of reasons why it makes sense. After the insanity that has been the Ghostbusters backlash, we (ummm…non-sexist people) understand why it’s important not to give in to the demands of people who can’t get over their sexism enough to even acknowledge their sexism exists. It made them uncomfortable and they are angry and they are loud. But, if Hollywood stopped making films that made certain people uncomfortable, we’d be stuck with movies that no one cared about and doesn’t that defeat the purpose? After all, change happens in the uncomfortable moments, conversations, opinions, films, etc.
“Change means movement. Movement means friction. Only in the frictionless vacuum of a nonexistent abstract world can movement or change occur without that abrasive friction of conflict.” -Saul Alinsky
Enter James Bond — a super straight, white male franchise. That’s not to say non-white dudes don’t enjoy James Bond films. I like James Bond films. But as a woman, I also acknowledge many icky, misogynistic tones of the films. I don’t like those. So when I look at the possibility of a “new” Bond, the options are wide open. Maybe that dude from Game of Thrones (Peter Dinklage)? Or a comedian like Aziz Ansari? And yeah, why not a lady Bond? We might be getting a lady President, so why not a lady Bond? Stranger things have happened.
So you might be saying to yourself: “They just hire the best person for the job. That’s in their best interest. Why bring race or gender or sexuality into the decision?” WHY? Because when you have a character that goes through so many iterations over the course of decades and always ends up being a straight, white dude (ehhh…side eyeing you too Doctor Who and most American Presidents), it becomes increasingly obvious that no one else is even being considered. At least, not seriously considered. And yes, I know there are many factors going into each decision in Hollywood. THIS I UNDERSTAND (and has been mansplained to me plenty, thank you.) But, can we at least have some serious non-white dude options on the table?
So should Gillian Anderson be the #NextBond? In my opinion? OF COURSE. (But in my opinion, Gillian Anderson should be in every TV show and every movie for the rest of time.) The real question is: should the door be opened to seriously consider someone like Gillian Anderson or Idris Elba for the #NextBond? The answer is a BIG FREAKING YES.
(And look, there’s already a poster for it so it’s totally a real thing!!)
