Filmgoers want James Bond to remain male, says new poll

Film fans have decided that they’re not ready for a female 007.

A new poll of 3,000 moviegoers, conducted by Meerkat Movies, shows that 75% of people asked want James Bond to remain a male character. The discussion about gender-flipping Bond has been going on for some time now, with many people hoping for the spy franchise to follow in Doctor Who’s footsteps.

The hit BBC One sci-fi series recently recast the lead role of The Doctor with Jodie Whittaker, the first female actress to play the role in the show’s 50+ year history, but it seems Bond fans are not quite there yet.

Barbara Broccoli, the producer of the James Bond film series, ruled out a female 007 in 2018.

“Bond is male,” Broccoli said. “He’s a male character. He was written as a male and I think he’ll probably stay as a male.

“And that’s fine. We don’t have to turn male characters into women. Let’s just create more female characters and make the story fit those female characters.”

Meerkat Movies, the service which offers 2-for-1 cinema tickets to Compare The Market users on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, published the survey findings as part of the first Meerkat Movies Annual Cinema Index.

It revealed thrifty Brits redeemed 4.3 million Meerkat Movies codes in 2018, an increase on 3.8 million times in the previous year. And unsurprisingly, musicals dominated the the films Meerkat Movies users watched the most.

The top ten most-watched films by Meerkat Movie members in 2018 (based on Meerkat Movies redemptions)

1. Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again!
2. Bohemian Rhapsody
3. Incredibles 2
4. The Greatest Showman
5. Avengers: Infinity War
6. Black Panther
7. Deadpool 2
8. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
9. A Star is Born
10. Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald

As for now Daniel Craig remains 007, and his final outing as the British secret agent will arrive in cinemas February 2020.

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