Ex-James Bond casting chief says 007 must stay white and male

The casting director behind the last 14 James Bond films says the character created by Ian Fleming should not be reimagined as a woman or a person of color, pushing back on years of speculation over who will replace Daniel Craig as 007.

Debbie McWilliams, who has cast every Bond film since 1981’s “For Your Eyes Only,” made the comments during an onstage interview Friday at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic. Asked by an audience member whether the spy could be portrayed by a woman or a non-white actor, Ms. McWilliams did not hesitate.

“Not in my opinion. No,” she said. “Ian Fleming wrote a character, and that’s the character that stays.”

Ms. McWilliams, who retired before Amazon MGM Studios’ 2025 deal with Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli gave the studio creative control over the franchise, said casting director Nina Gold and director Denis Villeneuve are now central to choosing the next 007, alongside producers Amy Pascal and David Heyman and Amazon MGM executives.

Even so, Ms. McWilliams said she still holds strong opinions on what makes a convincing Bond. She said the character’s “license to kill” demands a believable physical threat, contrasting how Pierce Brosnan and Mr. Craig each embodied the role differently — Mr. Brosnan bringing suave good looks, Mr. Craig a rougher edge.

“There’s no set rule,” she said. “It’s about to change dramatically, is all I can say.”

The casting veteran was more open-minded on the subject of Method acting, saying her willingness to work with an actor who stays in character between takes would depend heavily on the director overseeing the production. She pointed to Daniel Day-Lewis, whom she cast in Stephen Frears’ “My Beautiful Laundrette” — though she said her first choice for that role had actually been Gary Oldman.

Ms. McWilliams’ remarks come as the search for Mr. Craig’s successor continues to fuel speculation across the entertainment industry, with no official announcement yet on who will next don the tuxedo.