Bond producer Barbara Broccoli says the next Bond 'can be any colour, but he is male'

James Bond will never be played by a woman, producer Barbara Broccoli has said.

The long-time custodian of 007 on screen, who was born into the world of Bond movies as the daughter of original producer Albert R. 'Cubby' Broccoli, made the comments in an interview with Variety.

“He can be of any colour, but he is male,” she said.

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“I believe we should be creating new characters for women - strong female characters. I’m not particularly interested in taking a male character and having a woman play it. I think women are far more interesting than that.”

Michael G. Wilson, her half-brother and co-producer at Bond studio Eon, echoed: “You think of him as being from Britain or the Commonwealth, but Britain is a very diverse place.”

The forthcoming Bond movie, No Time To Die, will find Daniel Craig in his last appearance as the British secret agent.

After that, Eon will be looking for a new star to play 007, with these remarks perhaps hinting that Wilson and Broccoli could be casting their net further than before to appoint the next Bond.

Others connected to the world of Bond appear to agree with Broccoli about the gender of Craig's replacement, notably Eva Green, who played Vesper Lynd in 2006's Casino Royale.

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She said: “It doesn’t make sense for him to be a woman. Women can play different types of characters, be in action movies, and be superheroes, but James Bond should always be a man and not be Jane Bond. There is history with the character that should continue. He should be played by a man.”

That said, Jane Seymour, who played Solitaire in Live And Let Die, would be keen on Bond switching genders.

She said last year: “More power to the women... why not? It’s time.”

Though the details are being kept under wraps, it's thought that the closest we'll get to a female Bond is Lashana Lynch, who plays Nomi in No Time To Die.

Rumours abound that she has taken up the 007 codename, following Bond's retirement.

The new movie lands on April 2.