Meet the James Bond Franchise’s First Female 007

When Lashana Lynch suited up as MI6 agent Nomi in No Time to Die (2021), she made history. Not by becoming the next James Bond—but by taking on his iconic number. For the first time in the franchise’s six-decade history, the 007 designation belonged to a woman.

It was a bold narrative move—and one that didn’t sit well with everyone. Long before the film’s release, trailers revealed that Lynch’s character had been assigned the 007 codename following Bond’s retirement. The online backlash was immediate and long-time fans accused the film of abandoning tradition and replacing James Bond with a “woke” alternative.

But that criticism missed the point. Lynch’s character wasn’t a new Bond—she was her own agent, with her own story. And in the film, Daniel Craig’s Bond himself makes that clear: “It’s just a number,” he says, referring to the 007 designation.

While Lynch’s Nomi eventually returns the title to Bond out of respect during the third act, the moment still marks a turning point. The franchise showed, for the first time, that 007 could be more than one man’s identity.

Related: Daniel Craig Might Reprise James Bond Role for Universal Studios GB

Now that the Daniel Craig era is over—and with Denis Villeneuve set to direct the next film—talk of a female Bond has resurfaced. But so far, those involved in shaping the future of the franchise remain firm. Producer Barbara Broccoli, who helped steer Bond through five decades, once said, “I always feel that Bond is a male character, that is just a fact.”

Craig and his No Time to Die co-star Ana de Armas have expressed similar views in recent years.

Still, there may be room to experiment elsewhere. A spinoff series. A video game. A new line of novels. These are platforms where the rules can bend and evolve—without disrupting the cinematic canon. A female 007 in an alternate storyline might be a way to test audience interest without altering the core Bond formula.

Lashana Lynch proved that a female 007 can hold her own. Whether it’s her, or another actor, stepping into that codename again, the door might still be open.

Would you watch a Bond spinoff with a female lead? Let us know in the comments!