Bond producer Barbara Broccoli says next 007 will be a British male of any ethnicity

The producer of James Bond films, Barbara Broccoli, recently spoke about the future of the spy film franchise based on Ian Flemings novels. 

With No Time to Die, Daniel Craig bid farewell to the character, sparking rumours and discussions about who is going to take the franchise forward.

Broccoli was asked whether a woman would ever emulate 007 onscreen to which she told The Hollywood Reporter, "I think it will be a man because I don’t think a woman should play James Bond. I believe in making characters for women and not just having women play men’s roles. I don’t think there are enough great roles for women, and it’s very important to me that we make movies for women about women. He should be British, so British can be any [ethnicity or race]."

She said that the team is open to having No Time to Die director Cary Fukunaga, who took over the reins from Danny Boyle after he exited due to creative differences. 

Broccoli said that while she's unsure Fukunaga would like to return to direct another Bond film, "we’d love to work with him again." 

Craig had previously said that even he feels there should be better roles written for women and people of colour instead of them taking on a man's role. "Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?" he had told Radio Times.

No Time to Die was released this year, and earned over $765 million worldwide.