What if James Bond was gay? New London comedy play takes on the battle to cast 007

By&nbspEuronews&nbspwith&nbspAP

Published on 20/08/2025 - 16:45 GMT+2

A caller play successful London takes a comedic look astatine nan precocious stakes casting of nan caller James Bond, bringing laughs to nan biggest uncover successful Hollywood.

The main character, Deborah, is simply a fictionalised type of seasoned Bond shaper Barbara Broccoli, though arsenic nan play's star, Tanya Franks, points out, "We're perfectly not allowed to opportunity that!"

Deborah is astir to unveil her cleanable pick, a caller 007 to reinvigorate nan franchise, erstwhile her early prima is deed by a career-ending ungraded and nan hashtags #DrNoConsent and #Moonraper commencement to trend.

She and her co-producer relative Malcolm (Philip Bretherton) and "mediocre nepo baby" boy Quinn (Harry Goodson-Bevan) must scramble to find a replacement who will please some nan attraction groups and nan financiers. But really does nan white, philandering misogynistic slayer of Ian Fleming's novels fresh into today's world?

Her boy finds Theo (Obioma Ugoala), a Black character who seems for illustration a awesome fresh for nan world's astir celebrated spy. But he is gay, and wants to bring his fiancé to events. Deborah must take betwixt nan slick, suited look nan world knows, aliases another, much progressive type of nan world icon.

"The spectrum of casting has changed dramatically, fantastically so, and for nan absolute correct reasons. So I deliberation this is simply a merchandise wherever we tin say, has it been near behind? And that's precisely nan questions that we propulsion up," Franks told AP.

"And surely location are galore societal issues and issues wrong nan casting situation that do surely get debated successful this to a definite extent, but successful a very comic fashion."

The past James Bond movie - and nan last 1 for Daniel Craig - No Time to Die, was released successful autumn 2021, and nan real-life producers of nan franchise have not announced his replacement.

"It becomes possibly curiously this benignant of referendum connected British personality - you know, what is it to beryllium British now, what is it to beryllium a spy now, to want to service your country. And I deliberation that's nan absorbing thing," said Ugoala.

"I deliberation it could beryllium anybody. And I deliberation that I'd beryllium really willing successful possibly for illustration a South Asian character arsenic a Bond. I deliberation it's much than benignant of achromatic and white. I deliberation British personality is truthful overmuch much than that," he added.

'A Role To Die For' written by Jordan Waller and directed by Olivier Award victor Derek Bond (no relation), runs astatine Marylebone Theatre successful London until 30 August.

Video editor • Theo Farrant