The search for Daniel Craig’s successor as James Bond remains one of Hollywood’s most closely watched casting questions, and speculation has not been limited to men. Some fans and critics have floated the idea of recasting Ian Fleming’s spy as a woman. But Helen Mirren, who has long been outspoken on feminist issues, says that particular reinvention would undermine the character.

Speaking to Saga Magazine, Mirren said she admires the push for stronger female roles but believes James Bond should remain male. “I’m such a feminist, but James Bond has to be a guy,” she said. “You can’t have a woman. It just doesn’t work. James Bond has to be James Bond, otherwise it becomes something else.” Her comments add to an ongoing conversation about the future of the franchise, which has faced pressure to modernize while retaining its global appeal.

Mirren’s co-star in the upcoming Thursday Murder Club film, former Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, agreed with her assessment. “Oh, I think it has to be a man,” Brosnan said, adding that he is eager to see “a whole new exuberance and life for this character” when the next actor takes over.

Brosnan’s remarks mark a contrast from his earlier position. In 2019, the actor told The Hollywood Reporter he would welcome a female Bond. “I think we’ve watched the guys do it for the last 40 years. Get out of the way, guys, and put a woman up there. I think it would be exhilarating, it would be exciting,” he said at the time. But even then, Brosnan noted that Barbara Broccoli, who has overseen the franchise for decades, would be unlikely to approve such a change.

That dynamic may now be shifting. Earlier this year, Amazon MGM Studios assumed control of Bond’s creative direction. Barbara Broccoli and her half-brother Michael G. Wilson, who inherited stewardship of the series from their father, Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, will continue to hold ownership rights but no longer oversee day-to-day creative decisions.

Instead, producers Amy Pascal, known for her role in the Spider-Man films, and David Heyman, best recognized for the Harry Potter series, will lead Bond’s next chapter. “James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in the history of cinema,” the pair said when their involvement was announced. “We are humbled to follow in the footsteps of Barbara Broccoli and Michael Wilson and excited to keep the spirit of Bond very much alive.”

The debate over Bond’s gender intensified with 2021’s No Time to Die, which introduced actress Lashana Lynch as the new Agent 007 after Bond’s retirement. While the storyline was temporary and Lynch’s role distinct from Bond himself, the move triggered a wave of backlash, much of it steeped in racism and misogyny.

Craig, who exited the franchise after that film, has said he supports more opportunities for women and actors of color in leading roles, but not through recasting Bond. “There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour,” he told Radio Times. “Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?”

As Amazon MGM prepares to relaunch the franchise, no casting announcements have been made. The new leadership faces the challenge of balancing a storied legacy with modern expectations. While some fans continue to advocate for a female Bond, Mirren and Brosnan argue that such a step would erase what defines the character.