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Martin Campbell is unique among the directors of the 25 official James Bond movies.
The 79-year-old has rebooted the 007 franchise the last two times, having a big influence on Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig’s casting and the tone of their turns as Ian Fleming’s spy.
He’s even open to helming Bond 26 with the seventh official incarnation of the character, whoever that will be.
Now there have been calls in recent years from some fans for the next actor to be a person of colour or a woman.
Speaking exclusively with Express.co.uk to promote the London Action Festival he’s taking part in this weekend, we asked the filmmaker legend if he thought say a female, a Black or even an American Bond would ever happen.
READ MORE: Henry Cavill’s James Bond audition was ‘tremendous’ – 007 director shares all
Campbell asserted: “Honestly, it’s not going to happen. None of [those suggestions will] because that’s the way the books are set up, that’s the way Fleming wrote them.
“And of course, there’s all this everyone screaming diversity, ‘Time to have a Black Bond’, ‘What about a female Bond?’ The answer would be no. I don’t think it’ll happen for a second. I think what will happen is Bond, he’s always been white, he’s always been the man that Fleming created, right? And I think that’s the way they’ll keep it.”
He also clarified: “I absolutely agree that a Black actor or a woman could certainly play Bond, but my feeling is that they will want to keep the brand as is.”
This week, the two-time Bond director is taking part in the London Action Festival where he’ll speak at a Q&A during a 25th-anniversary screening of The Mask of Zorro.
Campbell will also be on a panel called Anatomy Of A Set Piece, in which he will talk about what he thinks is one of the best action scenes in cinema history.
THE LONDON ACTION FESTIVAL runs from Wednesday 21st – Sunday 25th June. Tickets are on sale now via the website HERE
