1. No. Why does everything have to be poltically correct? Ian Fleming wrote the character as a Cauccasian...why can't it be left at that? A black, yellow, brown, etc... James Bond would not be James Bond.

Posted at 11:23AM on Nov 9th 2008 by Michael

2. Not too sure how you could interpret this article as 'being politically correct'. If there was a black James Bond it would not be because it was politically - but (hopefully) because there is a really great black British actor who could do the job.

Having said that.. Black James Bond I can so live with. As long as they never make him American! That would be just plain wrong!!

Just something interesting regarding 'coloured' people. In South Africa there is a coloured population of about 4.2-million people (8.9% of the total South African population). These people are neither black nor white - and have been here since the first settlers arrived. And it is by no stretch of the imagination insulting to call them coloured. http://www.southafrica.info/about/people/population.htm

Posted at 11:42AM on Nov 9th 2008 by Barbs

3. I'm Black and I think the issue is moot since this Bond is prob the best ever.......

Posted at 2:54PM on Nov 9th 2008 by Aaron

4. I totally agree. This isn't a gov't position. Its the movies. Bond is white. And I prefer him as a brunette. Not blond and blue eyed.

Posted at 12:22PM on Nov 11th 2008 by Brianna

5. I Totally agree with you, All this PC stuff is bullshit.
Its rediculous to say "IS THE WORLD READY FOR A BLACK JAMES BOND"

What do you mean are they ready? Were black people not capable of being part of the government's special divisions until Obama was elected.

This is crap, Course their "Ready" for it, Would they want it?
No dont be so bloody rediculous thats like asking if the world was ready for a WHITE SHAFT, Yes their ready, but it would be crap.

Posted at 2:18PM on Nov 11th 2008 by Chris

6. Frankly, after the mediocrity of Casino Royale, and the ABSOLUTE DROSS of Quantum of Solace, I'd rather they just knock the whole thing on the head.

Although I remember laughing a fair bit at the blatant publicity ploy that had Colin Salmon linked to the role post-Brosnan.

Posted at 11:35AM on Nov 9th 2008 by RP

7. we're not talking about being politically correct. we're talking about the evolution of a character. each actor whose played him has brought something different to the character. he has changed a good deal already. I think a black James Bond could be interesting. of course i'd like to see the character in a woman's perspective at some point as well.

Posted at 11:36AM on Nov 9th 2008 by Claire

8. Lets not forget that there was a black Felix Leiter in one of the Bond outings. I forget which one but I think the actor was Berney Casey

Posted at 11:41AM on Nov 9th 2008 by ropetrick

9. If we're strictly talking about who the first black Bond should be... HAS to be Idris Elba.

He's a fantastic actor, physcially in shape, and he's a Brit.

Posted at 11:49AM on Nov 9th 2008 by Dennis

10. Will smith looks like the ultimate James Bond.

Posted at 4:52AM on Nov 11th 2008 by Marvin

11. I'd say charisma is more important than sticking to Fleming's description. I mean, it's not as if they have much beside 'blockbuster' in mind when they make these movies and the whole cold war aspect is just as disposable and outdated as the anti-feminist legacy of the earlier Bond films.

Chiwetel Ejiofor (Serenity, Dirty Pretty Things), for instance, could sweep the floor with Craig any day. Lennie James (Snatch, Jericho) also comes to mind.

Posted at 11:59AM on Nov 9th 2008 by fanshawe

12. Live in South Africa after awhile. You'll hear black and coloured. And yes, there is a difference. Obama is coloured to them.

Posted at 12:03PM on Nov 9th 2008 by Bryan Price

13. Honestly, it would depend on what Black Actor they chose.

Posted at 12:08PM on Nov 9th 2008 by Jawmuncher

14. I'm all for equal opportunities, but what a dumb idea. Why not give Bond a non-white partner & then give that person a spin-off if he's accepted by the movie-going public?

Posted at 12:26PM on Nov 9th 2008 by LordPaul

15. You have to be kidding. This is the stupidest idea, and it periodically comes up including making him a woman.

James Bond isn't black. Period.

It's not a racial thing, it's just the way it is. Why not make Harry Potter black? Why not make Sherlock Holmes black? Why not make Tarzan black?

Because they aren't black!

James Bond isn't a president. He is a specific character. If you ask me, they need to stop with the blond thing and don't push it any farther. They are already getting too far away from the books as it is with this new film.

Posted at 12:32PM on Nov 9th 2008 by John Hudson

16. Exactly!

I was trying to think of examples to use, but yours work.

And it /is/ political correctness to want to change established things to seem to be doing it for reasons of equality.

It's patronising & pretty crass to presume that a person of a different race or sex or whatever would even want to play a character that was written about someone else rather than have a character that was written without specific traits.

I think this is abit of confusion between british pop icons - James Bond != Dr Who.

Posted at 1:00PM on Nov 9th 2008 by LordPaul

17. I also think it's PC to want to make Bond a woman or black.

If movie makers want better black heroes, they should create them, not try to turn established characters into something they're not.

Back in the 70s they even though of having Burt Reynolds play James Bond. That would have been equally ridiculous.

Posted at 2:32PM on Nov 9th 2008 by John Hudson

18. I don't think it's right changing the character from a caucasian to a black man. I am black and a fan of the series and I wouldn't like them going as far as changing the ethnicity of the character.
It's like saying you want to change John Shaft to a different nationality. It's just not I want to see. If Daniel Craig wants a black Bond, it's his preference. It shouldn't be forced on us. Black people still watch the films without complaining about the race of the character.
The only current character in popular film and TV that can be changed without much argument (I believe) is Doctor Who. That (also a fan of), has no fix race. He is male but not of any particular race (as he isn't human) and there's no reason why the character can't assume the body of a Chinese, Black or whatever.
So (again as a black man), as long as no one is willing to change John Shaft to a different race, let 007 be!!

Posted at 2:39PM on Nov 9th 2008 by qtrust

19. So I guess the answer to the question in the headline is ... no. Duly noted.

Posted at 2:12PM on Nov 9th 2008 by Eric D. Snider

20. Eric, that was a bit of a low blow there.

The answer to your question seems to be yes, of course the world is ready for a black James Bond, do you think this is 1904 or something?

The problem is and is exactly what the posters above are saying is that the world does not want a black James Bond because James Bond is not black.

There is a huge difference between the two and you fully well know that too.

Posted at 5:14PM on Nov 9th 2008 by Gary