When Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel) was revealed as the new 007 in No Time to Die (2021), the internet lit up—but not in the way producers may have hoped.Before the film even premiered, the trailer’s subtle reveal that Lynch’s character, Nomi, had inherited the iconic “007” designation triggered a wave of backlash online.Some longtime fans criticized the move, accusing the franchise of abandoning tradition and “going woke” by casting a woman, and a Black woman at that, in a role long associated with British espionage’s most iconic man.But the outrage missed a key detail. Lynch was not playing James Bond—she was a new MI6 agent, stepping into the 007 title only after Bond had retired. In the film, Daniel Craig’s Bond even calmly addresses the situation by saying, “It’s just a number”—a line that subtly underscored the filmmakers’ intention: that 007 is only a codename, not a person.Should James Bond Ever Be Played by a Woman?Credit: MGM/EON ProductionsThe discussion over a female 007 has since bled into a larger debate. The franchise’s longtime producers, Barbara Broccoli (who has since stepped down along with Michael G. Wilson to cede control to Amazon MGM Studios), have always been clear.“I always feel that Bond is a male character, that is just a fact,” she said in an interview with Good Morning Britain in 2019, adding, “We have to make movies about women and women’s stories but we have to create female characters and not just for a gimmick turn a male character into a woman.”Daniel Craig echoed that sentiment in an interview with Radio Times in 2021, saying, “There should simply be better roles for women and actors of color.”His No Time to Die co-star Ana de Armas told The Sun in 2022, “There’s no need for a female Bond,” adding that “there shouldn’t be any need to steal someone else’s character, you know, to take over.”Credit: Inside the MagicRelated: The Next James Bond Actor Has Finally Been Revealed, as Reboot Gets First Official TrailerNomi Was a Progressive Addition to Bond’s LegacyNo Time to Die managed to deliver a satisfying farewell to Daniel Craig’s Bond, while also testing the waters for a more modern MI6.Lynch’s MI6 agent Nomi was competent, confident, and ultimately respectful of Bond’s legacy—returning the 007 number to him in the film’s final act. The audience saw this not as a replacement, but a progression.Related: New James Bond 007 Rumored Casting Sparks Heated Fan ReactionsJames Bond’s New Identity Remains ClassifiedCredit: Inside the MagicNow, with Dune director Denis Villeneuve attached to helm the next chapter in the franchise, Bond’s future is once again in motion and the hunt for a new actor is underway. While no one has been announced yet, casting rumors swirl weekly.What is clear is that the character of James Bond will remain male. As for the number 007? That might be more flexible than ever. Vogue recently listed Lashana Lynch as a potential contender to play 007 in a future film. While it’s not out of the realm of possibility, especially considering we’ve already seen her do that in No Time to Die, what does remain to be seen is whether the next Bond film will actually be a continuation of the Daniel Craig era.Of course, Bond dies at the end of the latest film, so it’s highly unlikely. But on the other hand, never say never (which is actually a great title for a Bond film with a female lead).Do you think we’ll ever see a female James Bond? Share your thoughts below!The post Bond Franchise’s First-Ever Female 007: Fans’ Reactions appeared first on Inside the Magic.