Does James Bond have a gender identity, or is he just some guy?

As it turns out, the former is the case.

Or, at least, it may be.

During an appearance on the Girls On Film podcast, Barbara Broccoli — the woman in charge of 007’s destiny via her Eon Productions — waxed on the iconic spy’s future.

In the past, James was an emblem of machismo.

But that’s been abated a bit.

In fact, in September, the director of the franchise’s latest installment, Time to Die, accused the old Bond of rape.

Cary Fukunaga slapped Sean Connery’s secret agent:

“Is it Thunderball or Goldfinger where, like, basically Sean Connery’s character rapes a woman? She’s like ‘No, no, no,’ and he’s like, ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ That wouldn’t fly today.”

In sales, it’s called “overcoming resistance”:

Amid a takedown of toxic masculinity, might a movie studio sell audiences on a female Bond?

Barbara’s previously put the kibosh on the idea, though she’s been clear that new-and-improved means less malignantly macho:

“I think people are coming around…to accepting that stuff is no longer acceptable. Thank goodness. Bond is a character who was written in 1952 and the first film…came out in 1962. He’s got a long history, and the history of the past is very different to the way he is being portrayed now.”

If “Jane Bond” isn’t in the cards, might they come up with something in between?

As noted by the Daily Mail, the answer appears affirmative.

[Girls on Film host Anna Smith] asked if she believes the character will remain male, to which the producer replied, “I do, because I don’t think that we should be making films where women are playing men.”

“I think we should be making more films about women. I think Bond will be a man,” she added.

So Anna offered an alternative:

“Non-binary, perhaps, maybe one day?”

Ms. Broccoli’s onboard:

“Who knows? I mean, I think it’s open. We just have to find the right actor.”

Per the Mail, a new shade of skin may also be in store:

[Barbara], who controls the 007 franchise through her Eon Production company, also said the next Bond might not be white, adding: “We want the actor to be British…and British, as we know, can be many things.”

Names linked with the role include Idris Elba, Bridgerton’s Rege-Jean Page, Mad Max star Tom Hardy and Bodyguard actor Richard Madden.

A racial remix has indeed been bandied about for a while.

As reported by RedState’s Andrew Malcolm, a recent Morning Consult poll surveyed moviegoers on a plethora of possibilities:

Forty-five percent could support a black Jamesis Bond. But that, too, is down seven points in the last three years. And opposed by 30 percent.

Hispanic Jaime Bond? Thirty-nine percent say Sí. A close 35 percent said No.

An Asian James Bond and a female Bond both came in with 36 percent support. But nearly half (45 percent) said No thank you on the woman and 36 percent voted No on the Asian.

Which brings us to a gay James Bond. That idea was favored by only about one-in-four (28 percent) and opposed by nearly half (49 percent).

If Bond goes nonbinary, who will they/ze/ey/fae/per/sie/xie romance?

Everyone?

Whichever way the character ends up, one thing seems sure: He won’t resemble the large-and-in-charge man he once was.

After all, times change. People change. Pronouns change.

The planet is substantially sexually binary; but The World May Not Be Enough for cinema’s secret they-gent.

-ALEX

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