Credit: Inside the MagicWhile the search for the new James Bond continues — with the shortlist said to include Jack Barton (SAS: Rogue Heroes), Jack Lowden (Slow Horses), and Callum Turner (Eternity) — another 007 adaptation is reportedly in the works at Amazon MGM, but with a female lead.
Female James Bond Rumors
Talk of a “female James Bond” has circulated for years, especially since the last film in Daniel Craig’s series, No Time to Die (2021), introduced the MI6 agent Nomi (Lashana Lynch), who is temporarily assigned the 007 designation in Bond’s absence. Many have pushed back against the idea, including Craig himself and his No Time to Die co-star Ana de Armas. Longtime Bond producer Barbara Broccoli ruled out the possibility in 2020, reiterating that the character is male.
Still, it hasn’t stopped the rumor mill from spinning. While those rumors have quieted since Amazon MGM Studios announced its untitled Bond reboot early last year, a minority of 007 fans — and a handful of celebrities — continue to voice their desire to see a “gender-swapped” Bond.
Whether a female Bond will ever happen remains to be seen, but clearly, the upcoming film is looking for a male actor.
Still, there are plenty of female equivalents found throughout the wider 007 franchise, including Lynch’s Nomi and Ana de Armas’ Paloma (No Time to Die), Johanna Harwood/003 (Kim Sherwood’s Double O novels), and, of course, Miss Moneypenny — albeit more so in recent years.
Related: Female James Bond Is the Only Option for Amazon MGM’s 007 Reboot, New Report Suggests
Marvel Star Rumored to Play Female Bond Character
A secretary to M, Moneypenny is a supporting character in the Bond franchise. In film, she was most recently played by Naomie Harris, who appeared in three entries during the Craig era: Skyfall (2012), Spectre (2015), and No Time to Die.
This year, she was portrayed by Kiera Lester in IO Interactive’s successful video game 007 First Light, which stars Patrick Gibson (Dexter: Original Sin) as Bond.
Both the Craig era and First Light portray Moneypenny as a more involved character.
Now, according to Mail Online (via ActioNewz.com), a Moneypenny-focused TV series is in development at Amazon MGM, with Spider-Man: Brand New Day (2026) star Florence Pugh (who reprises her role as Yelena Belova in the film) being eyed to play the iconic Bond character.
The Moneypenny Diaries is said to be based on the book series of the same name from Samantha Weinberg (under the pseudonym Kate Westbrook); however, it’s unclear whether Pugh’s version of the character would also appear in the new Bond film.
This is the second time Pugh has been attached to the project — earlier this year, The Sun reported that the series would “likely to be based on the books of the same name, which are set in the Fifties and the Sixties — meaning it could be a prequel to the movies.”
Interestingly, Pugh is next set to appear in Dune: Part Three (2026), which is helmed by Denis Villeneuve, the director of the upcoming 007 reboot. Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) is writing the script, while Amy Pascal (Spider-Man: Brand New Day) and David Heyman (the Harry Potter films) are on board as producers.
Amazon MGM has not announced who the new Bond actor is; however, Pascal recently told Deadline that we may learn who the new 007 is by the end of this year.
“I would say the end of the year is a good bet. We are being really, really methodical,” she said, adding that the new iteration of Bond has “got to be something really different that is stirring and exciting and different.”
There’s no release date for the Bond reboot.
Do you think Florence Pugh would make a good Moneypenny? Do you think there should be a female James Bond? Share your thoughts below!
