Avengers: Doomsday is coming in 2026, and it will feature a stacked cast. Last week, 27 actors were announced for the upcoming Marvel movie, including several players from the original X-Men movies. Normally 27 prominent actors in any movie would be astounding, but for Marvel Studios, this was just the opening Doomsday salvo. Following Robert Downey Jr.’s tease of more names to come, Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has confirmed there will indeed be other Doomsday castings revealed at a later date. Now my fingers are crossed that two MCU characters in particular will be part of that group.

Feige shared this information in a video that was presented during the Disney panel at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. With principal photography set to start in a few days, the executive said:

Now it should be noted that several other characters have been reported to appear in Avengers: Doomsday beyond the official 27, including Jeremy Renner’s Hawkeye, Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man and Hayley Atwell’s Peggy Carter, as well as Chris Evans in an undisclosed role. But there are plenty of other characters who still have question marks stamped on them, and it’s hard to say how many will be revealed ahead of the Doomsday’s release or saved for the movie itself. Personally, I’m hoping that Monica and Maria Rambeau are added to the group.

The Marvels end-credits scene showed that after closing the rupture between realities created during the battle with Dar-Benn, Monica Rambeau woke up in another corner of the Marvel multiverse. In this universe, her mother is still alive and is the superhero Binary, though she never gave birth to her own daughter. She’s also affiliated with the mutant scientist Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, who mentioned Professor X, confirming that a version of the X-Men exist in this universe.

Since Kelsey Grammer is set to reprise Beast in Avengers: Doomsday, here’s what I’m thinking: the X-Men characters appearing in the movie hail from this universe where Monica Rambeau ended up rather than the original Fox universe. If I’m correct about this, then it would be weird if Monica and Maria didn’t appear. Maria’s already affiliated with the X-Men and Monica will likely follow in her footsteps, so there’s no reason to keep them on the sidelines.

Our own Sarah El-Mahmoud speculated that most of Avengers: Doomsday will be set in this other universe, and it won’t be until the very end that Monica will make contact with Captain Marvel in the Sacred Timeline to warn her about Doctor Doom, setting the stage for Avengers: Secret Wars. Even if this theory doesn’t end up being accurate, and even if I’m wrong about the type of X-Men will see in Doomsday, I want to see Monica back in action and how Maria does as Binary. Hopefully she fares better than the Maria who was Captain Marvel in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Whatever ends up happening with this, I’m looking forward to Avengers: Doomsday’s release on May 1, 2026. Just like Infinity War and Endgame did for The Infinity Saga, Doomsday and Secret Wars will bring The Multiverse Saga to a close, so the more cast members that can get in on this epic two-parter, the better.

As an avid reader, I love getting ready for upcoming book adaptations because it’s just so much fun how a book can compare to a novel. Sure, the source material is almost always better than the movie or TV show, but it can be satisfying to see how the different mediums tell the same story. And following a new announcement coming out about the movie Children Of Blood And Bone, I’m very much sold on finally getting into the book series.

I’m Floored By The Talent In Paramount’s Children Of Blood And Bone

First off, this cast is actually ridiculous. Per Variety, eight very talented actors have already signed on and there’s more in negotiations. To first talk about the heavy hitters, Viola Davis will play a Seer named Mama Agba. Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo will play an admiral named Kaea who is right hand to the king, played by Chiwetel Ejifor. Idris Elba will play a high priest named Lekan, and Lashana Lynch will play the mother to the main characters, Zelie and Tzain.

Oh, and apparently Regina King is currently in negotiations to play the queen of the kingdom of Orïsha, the setting of Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling series. Paramount is assembling some of the biggest casts of talented actors we’ve seen in a minute. This is clearly a big production that the studio is investing in and has impressed a slew of talent.

I’m Excited To See Talent From The Woman King Reunited

Leading the adaptation will be Thuso Mbedu as the fantasy film’s heroine Zelie. I don’t know if you saw 2023’s The Woman King, but that was the first and only movie in which I’ve seen Mbedu, and she is amazing in her role. She co-starred with Viola Davis in that movie, who did almost every stunt in the action movie, along with Lynch. We loved The Woman King in our review, especially for the direction of Gina Prince-Blythewood, who will also be directing the Children of Blood and Bone.

Thuso Mbedu will also be joined by Snowfall’s Damson Idris, who is set to star in F9 with Brad Pitt this year, and The Acolyte’s Amandla Stenberg will play the children of the king who embark on a quest with Zelie to take back the magic that is stolen from their kingdom. House Party’s Tosin Cole will play Zelie’s older brother.

I Love The Idea Of A New Fantasy YA Trilogy Being On The Big Screen

As a book reader who loved following The Hunger Games series when it was being made into movies and is excited for the upcoming prequel, I love the idea of there finally being a big-budget YA adaptation again. So many of them in the past just weren’t not successful, oftentimes because the right attention wasn’t put into them. With this cast, its director and author Tomi Adeyemi even co-writing the screenplay, I’m ready to read this series (there are three books) and then get even more excited for the movie. The film has a release date of Jan. 15, 2027 and will be made for IMAX.

While fans wait for a new James Bond adventure, the 2024 TV schedule has some pretty exciting options to keep the espionage-inclined part of my mind busy. Anyone with a Peacock subscription can keep up with the exciting series adaptation of Frederick Forsyth’s The Day of the Jackal. Pitting Eddie Redmayne’s titular assassin against No Time to Die cast member Lashana Lynch’s dogged MI6 agent Bianca Pullman, the series is a battle of wills between their characters. So much so that they only ever met once on the set. But, when they spoke to CinemaBlend, they revealed how they stayed “constantly aligned.”

I had the opportunity to speak with the aforementioned actors during the press day for the Peacock/Sky Atlantic production. Answering first part of the answer to my question about the co-stars' bond was the Fantastic Beasts vet himself, who definitely was in the same place as his Jackal co-star during our virtual chat. When going into the story of how their first meeting was during a “punishing” personal training session, Eddie Redmayne shared the following with CinemaBlend:

That sort of detail was something that Lashana Lynch was keen to chime in on, especially because she and Eddie Redmayne are not only the series leads, they’re also executive producers on the project. That sort of dedication has arguably made The Day of the Jackal one of the best Peacock series currently streaming.

That's no surprise, as Ms. Lynch's feedback fed into some details that I actually noticed when watching the action-drama series for prep. Here’s what she added in her half of the answer to the question at hand:

Seeing The Day of the Jackal as “10 small movies,” Lynch’s experiences on everything from Captain Marvel to Bob Marley: One Love could be assumed as influencing her eye for this new streaming adventure. Her ear for music is particularly noteworthy, as the first episode’s introduction involves The Jackal masquerading as an older German janitor to execute a hit, all to the tune of Radiohead’s “Everything In Its Right Place.”

That song has even featured in some of the advertising for the Ronan Bennett-created show's streaming run, and anyone who knows that tune can see why. Meanwhile, Eddie Redmayne’s thoughts on VFX and aesthetic lend the series its slick look, and potentially the smooth pacing that’s seen this series unfold over several episodes so far.

Considering that this is a globetrotting affair that’s put The Jackal into scrapes in all sorts of scenarios and settings, we’re certainly treated to a visual feast with every installment. But perhaps the move that most unifies Redmayne and Lynch’s disciplines is The Day of the Jackal’s stunning title sequence, which absolutely has a specific vibe in mind when showcasing the show’s tone. Take a look, listen for yourself below and see what comes to mind:

If that opening doesn’t look and sound like it belongs in front of one of the James Bond movies, I may as well quit this profession and become a hired gun myself. Of course, that’s only a joke, as it’d not only take me away from hyping up such series as The Day of the Jackal, it’d also prevent me from finishing the series. That aside, though, I appreciate the craftsmanship at play here and how the two leads were able to remain in sync, even though they weren't in physical proximity to each other.

If you’re in the U.S., you can watch new episodes as they drop every Thursday, exclusively on Peacock. Though if you’re looking for how to watch The Day of the Jackal outside of the States, you can check out our handy guide to get that information pretty quickly. And don't worry: you have plenty of time to catch up before the season finale, which is set to debut on December 12th.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is huge, and it's always growing thanks to both movies and TV shows that are streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Plenty of actors have appeared in multiple projects, including Lashana Lynch who portrays Maria Rambeau. And after appearing in The Marvels' credits scene, the Woman King actress shared which MCU characters she'd like to share the screen with.

Lynch debuted in Captain Marvel, playing the titular character's best friend. And despite her death in-universe she managed to surprisingly pop up a few times since.  Namely as variants of Maria in Doctor Strange 2's Illuminati, as well as the credits scene of The Marvels. While speaking with ScreenRant about her unconventional tenure in the MCU, she mentioned other characters that would be fun to crossover with. In her words: 

There you have it. Sounds like Lynch would like to be back for more MCU fun, and would love to meet the OG Avengers in the process. Additionally, she's hoping she could cross paths with Tom Holland's Spider-Man. Unfortunately, it's unclear when either of those names might actually appear in upcoming Marvel movies. 

After it was revealed that Maria died after the events of Captain Marvel, no one really expected to see her return to the shared universe. But now that we're in the Multiverse Saga basically anything could happen. And it'll be fascinating to see how she pops up again in the future. 

Maria's role in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness was super short and she was brutally killed off by Elizabeth Olsen's Scarlet Witch. But her surprise cameo in The Marvels is what really has the potential to change the MCU as a whole, and bring her back to interact with new characters. 

After the ending of The Marvels, Monica Rambeau wakes up in an alternate universe, seemingly within the X-Mansion. This scene got fans excited as it featured Kelsey Grammer's return as Beast, this time via visual effects rather than practical makeup. But even more thrilling was the appearance of Maria, who never had Monica and seemingly became the hero known as Binary. One would assume this was a way to bring in the new X-Men into the MCU, but the studio's plans for the beloved mutant team is still a mystery for the time being. But after the success of X-Men '97, the pressure is on to bring them into live-action. 

Lashana Lynch's tenure in the MCU is streaming now on Disney+. In the meantime, check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is constantly expanding, thanks to new content in theaters and streaming with a Disney+ subscription. Those of us who have spent years watching the Marvel movies in order know the studio has a penchant for big twists, especially related to its post-credits scenes. Case in point: The Marvels' credits scene, which featured a cameo from Lashana Lynch as Binary. And after surprise appearances in both that movie and Doctor Strange 2, Lynch addressed her future in the MCU.

Lashana Lynch made her shared universe debut in Captain Marvel, before her surprise cameos in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness and (of course) The Marvels. The latter seemed to tease big things including the X-Men's long-awaited entrance into the MCU, and fans are wondering if Lynch will appear in upcoming Marvel movies. She recently spoke to ScreenRant about her ongoing role in the franchise, offering:

There you have it. It sounds like even the actress herself is surprised at the way she keeps appearing in the MCU. It might not have taken long for her to film her The Marvels appearance, but it definitely made an impact. And she was just as surprised as fans, given how tight Marvel security is.

The Woman King actress' comments about being relatively clueless echo what other MCU actors have said in the past. For instance, Elizebeth Olsen has maintained that she doesn't know about her Marvel future, and if she'll be back as the Scarlet Witch following the ending of Doctor Strange 2. 

Later in the same interview, Lashana Lynch addressed her possible return to the MCU, offering:

While she's in the dark, it seems like an inevitability that Lynch will pop up again following The Marvels. Not only are the X-Men expected to finally join the MCU, and her character Binary will presumably help to bridge this gap. She's also playing a variant of Monica's mother Maria, so there's an emotional story to be told there. Although it's rumored that The Marvels won't get a sequel, so there's still plenty of questions. 

The next MCU movie hitting theaters is Deadpool & Wolverine on July 26th. In the meantime, check the 2024 movie release dates.

Director Reinaldo Marcus Green’s Bob Marley: One Love is a biopic that is designed to both honor its subject and be illuminating for those who are only aware of the man’s broad pop culture image. Beginning amid political crisis in Jamaica and chronicling the creation of the iconic Bob Marley And The Wailers album Exodus, the film provides an intimate look at Marley’s life that is in part based on the memories of those who were closest to him. The stars of the movie were aware in the making of it that there is a public perception of the legendary reggae singer, and they wanted to show more.

As captured in the video above, I had the opportunity to talk with Kingsley Ben-Adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton and Reinaldo Marcus Green earlier this month during the London press day for Bob Marley: One Love, and one question I asked each of them was about how the movie confronts misconceptions about the beloved singer. They spoke to what his music means to so many people and the value of the insight provided by Marley’s family and friends.

Kingsley Ben-Adir, playing the eponymous role in the film, had a great challenge ahead of him within this arena, and he spoke to his specific interest in showing the side of Bob Marley’s life of which even the most die-hard fans aren’t aware. Said the actor,

Fans have a tendency to deify pop culture figures of Bob Marley’s stature, but Kingley Ben-Adir wanted to show that, like all of us, he was human:

In her response, Lashana Lynch (who plays Bob Marley’s wife, Rita Marley) spoke to the impact that Bob Marley made on the world not only when he was alive but also via legacy. It’s been more than 40 years since Marley passed away at the age of 36, and that time has seen people make their own personal connections and associations with his image and art:

For Lynch, it was important for Bob Marley: One Love to investigate who he was as a person, and she believes that co-star Kingley Ben-Adir found that in his performance. She continued,

Bob Marley: One Love is now playing in theaters everywhere, and it is now the number one movie at the box office. Stay tuned here on CinemaBlend for more from my time talking with the director and cast of the new feature, and preview what’s ahead film-wise for the rest of the year by checking out our 2024 Movie Release Calendar.

There’s one name that comes to mind first when you think of reggae music, Jamaica and Rastafarianism, and that’s Bob Marley. This Valentine’s Day we’re finally going to see his story come to life in the upcoming biopic Bob Marley: One Love, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green in his first project since King Richard starring Will Smith. Critics have had the opportunity to screen the film ahead of its release, and while they’ve got plenty of praise for the lead actors, the movie overall has failed to capture much excitement.

In the musical drama, Bob Marley is played by Kingsley Ben-Adir, whose memorable roles include Malcolm X in One Night in Miami... and one of the Kens in Barbie. MCU actress Lashana Lynch plays Bob’s wife Rita Marley. Let’s see what the critics are saying about Bob Marley: One Love. 

Lovia Gyarkye of THR lauds Kingsley Ben-Adir’s portrayal of Bob Marley but says the film overall fails to soar because it shies away from exploring what it truly meant for the singer to become a peace broker for his country and a beacon of hope for an oppressed people. At least it reintroduces audiences to the revolutionary icon, the critic says, writing: 

Damon Wise of Deadline says Bob Marley: One Love at first looks like it’s going to break away from the cookie-cutter music biopic but ultimately falls victim to the cliches. However, Wise agrees that the lead actor rises to the challenge, continuing: 

Owen Gleiberman of Variety says the biopic missed its mark by choosing to focus just on two years of Bob Marley’s life, omitting the catharsis of his rise to fame, but he also praises Kingsley Ben-Adir for the way he captures the iconic musician. Gleiberman writes:  

Vikram Murthi of IndieWire grades Bob Marley: One Love a C, lamenting that the film drains all of the political importance of its subject’s actions from the movie, and while it attempts to convey that Bob Marley had internal struggles, it doesn’t end up telling us much at all. Murthi continues: 

Murtada Elfadl of AV Club gives it the even-worse grade of a D, writing that Bob Marley’s life and legacy deserve better than this “lifeless” film that never manages to show moviegoers why its subject is such an icon and why his life remains important today. In Elfadl’s words: 

Critics seem to be disappointed in how Bob Marley: One Love captured the musician’s life, even if they had mostly great things to say about the lead’s portrayal of Bob Marley. If you want to watch this story of the reggae legend unfold on the big screen, you can do so starting Wednesday, February 14, and be sure to check out our 2024 movie calendar to see what other coming-soon movies pique your interest. 

The Marvels may not have been a massive box office hit, but it gave Marvel Cinematic Universe fans a huge tease for the future of the franchise. The Marvels mid-credits scene brought back the X-Men, including Kelsey Grammar’s Beast, and introduced us to Binary, as played by Lashana Lynch. While the scene certainly sets up something for the future, don’t ask Lynch because she has no idea. 

Lashana Lynch made a surprising return in The Marvels as the actress, who played Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel and an alternate universe Captain Marvel in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, is also a version of the X-Men’s Binary in the parallel universe that Monica Rambeau found herself in at the end of the film. One assumes this will lead to something during the ongoing MCU Multiverse Saga, but Lynch recently told ComicBook she has no idea what’s next, as she only gets her information one movie at a time. Lynch said…

While it may be a bit surprising that an actor who is currently set up as one of the key players in this storyline doesn’t have a clue what’s up, it fits what we know about the Marvel Cinematic Universe pretty well. Actors are very much “need to know” and they’re often only given the information specific to them, often without even knowing what’s going on in the rest of the movie that they’re in.

Just because Lashana Lynch doesn’t know what’s next for her doesn’t mean Marvel Studios doesn’t, but it also doesn’t mean it does. While Marvel gets a lot of credit for the cinematic universe it has crafted, a lot less is actually planned out well in advance than most people would probably guess. There is likely some idea for what will happen next to Monica Rambeau or the universe she’s in, but it may only be in general terms as sometimes these credit scenes don’t get paid off for years.

Of course, in this case, we may see something happen much sooner. The next upcoming Marvel movie, the only one on the 2024 release schedule, is Deadpool 3, which will also include elements of the Fox X-Men universe, most notably Hugh Jackman’s return as Wolverine. Perhaps we will see Lashana Lynch there. Kelsey Krammar has teased a return as Beast, though certainly we can't say for sure if or when. Lynch certainly implies she hasn’t filmed anything more since The Marvels, but she wouldn’t tell us if she had. 

Among Netflix’s new releases is the movie adaptation of Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical starring the likes of No Time To Die’s Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey. With her key role in the musical, the British actress follows in the footsteps of the beloved 1996 movie where Embeth Davidtz had a generation falling in love with the cottagecore elementary teacher who protected the young and powerful Matilda from her crude family and headmistress. Through playing the role, yes, Lynch knows all about Miss Honey’s status as a queer icon. 

‘90s kids have especially been bonding over Miss Honey being their “gay awakening” as of late, including with this viral TikTok from last year. Check it out: 

While speaking to Entertainment Weekly about playing Miss Honey for Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical, Lashana Lynch reacted to the elementary school teacher being a symbol in the LGBTQ+ community. Here’s what she said: 

While Lynch was not aware of Miss Honey's effect on young gay kids when she nabbed the role, she soon learned about it via social media and one of her queer friends. The actress continued to speak to the role, saying this: 

Thanks to Netflix's take on Matilda arriving, this has resulted in fans sharing just how important Miss Honey was in their youth from the previous 1996 movie, as seen below.

As viewers watch Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical with a Netflix subscription over the holiday season, it looks like Lashana Lynch’s Miss Honey could be doing right by the character. One viewer used a viral meme of Aubrey Plaza asking Drew Barrymore to be her “mommy” to describe her thoughts on the actress’ role in the musical. 

Aside from the Netflix musical, Lashana Lynch has found herself in numerous high profile roles as of late. She was the best friend to Brie Larson’s Marvel hero in Captain Marvel and recently returned to don the suit in another universe as Maria Rambeau in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. The actress also played the new 007 in No Time To Die, though she has no idea if that will be explored further. 

Additionally, Lynch played a key role in The Woman King cast alongside Viola Davis. You can check out our exclusive interviews with Lynch for the The Woman King here on CinemaBlend and stream Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical on Netflix now. 

The search for Daniel Craig’s James Bond replacement has been hot with multiple candidates reportedly in the running, including Regé-Jean Page and Henry Cavill. Finding a successor has been tough for Bond producers as they look to reinvent the international spy. But beyond finding the next Bond, there’s been a question over who may or may not return after No Time to Die. With speculation running rampant, Lashana Lynch, Ralph Fiennes, and more No Time to Die stars spoke about possibly returning to the James Bond franchise.

Lashana Lynch (Nomi)

As one of No Time to Die’s breakout stars, the Woman King star stole multiple scenes as Nomi. Taking up 007 was a huge deal for Lynch following in the steps of earlier Black female representation. Being a fan favorite made many viewers want more potential Nomi stories in the future. With the franchise in flux right now, Lashana Lynch mentioned to Empire she was unsure of her Bond future, but the actress did spill an interesting tidbit about her current status with Eon Productions.

So there might be more Nomi after all. This development means Bond producers want Lynch to keep the 007 mantle going after Craig’s departure. It made sense given the spy franchise is going through a 21st-century transition. Maybe the future of the franchise is female despite the ongoing search for a new Bond.

Keeping Lynch under contract would allow the fans to watch more takedowns and see Nomi come into her own. The character displayed endless potential to carry the beloved franchise in a different direction if she were to fight alongside the new international spy. Fans can breathe as the Doctor Strange 2 star is locked in… for now. But are her No Time to Die co-stars on board for another film when the time comes?

Ralph Fiennes (M)

Ralph Fiennes served as the perfect successor to Dame Judi Lynch when he took over in Skyfall. He managed to carry over the authoritarian angle while fighting to keep Craig’s Bond on track. Fiennes inhabited the MI6 chief well. A few fans have questioned whether the Oscar nominee would return after Craig’s swan song. Despite the looming doubt, the Schindler’s List actor made his case for staying on as the head of MI6.

So the 59-year-old actor is ready for another Bond outing once the producers settle on a new spy. Having him remain with the franchise would be a major positive to help fans transition into the reinvention.

Naomie Harris (Eve Moneypenny)

Naomie Harris reintroduced Eve Moneypenny as a field agent-to-M’s right hand in 2012’s Skyfall. She added a new depth to the witty secretary upon her appearance. After months after No Time to Die’s release, Harris ung on to hope that she will return after planting seeds of doubt about her future with the franchise.

As Harris mentioned, a new Bond could bring in a new MI6 family. She’s still game to play Moneypenny again if producers decided to keep the remaining cast. Like Fiennes, it would be nice to see her remain with the spy film series as a way to bridge the gap between the Daniel Craig era and the new Bond.

Ben Whitshaw (Q)

Resembling Harris’ introduction, Ben Whishaw reinvented the tech-savvy research developer for a new generation upon his debut in 2012’s Skyfall. Whishaw gave Q a new dimension, and despite the character’s development in No Time to Die, the Golden Globe winner opened up to the BBC about his uncertainty over his return.

Of course, recruiting a new James Bond usually brings in a new cast for a new era. Bond producers being secretive doesn’t quell Whishaw’s doubt over his return as Q. Hopefully, he’ll be brought back for another film so fans can, at least, see how his story plays out.

Léa Seydoux (Dr. Madeleine Swann)

Léa Seydoux’s Dr. Madeleine Swann made an impression over two movies as James Bond’s most recent love interest from the Craig era. Despite the twist in No Time to Die, she appeared to complete her arc by having Bond’s daughter. Given that she didn’t die in the end, her future with the spy film series is unknown. When speaking about her possible return, Seydoux said:

Having Bond’s only child put her in a special place in the Bond girl pantheon. Driving into the sunset with her and Bond’s daughter might be a proper conclusion to Dr. Swann’s story. But the The French Dispatch star felt there was a door open for her return.

Having an open-ended conclusion did leave room for Seydoux to pop up again. It might not be in the new Bond film, but having Bond’s daughter could lead to a story down the line.

With so many questions in the air, only time will tell if these actors return to play these beloved characters. You can watch No Time to Die to catch the actors playing these roles by getting an Amazon Prime Video subscription.

Minor spoilers ahead for Viola Davis’ The Woman King.

Action movies are a tried and true genre in the film world, often inspiring audiences to get to theaters and watch epic battles on the big screen. The latest of these movies is Gina Prince-Bythewood’s The Woman King, which stars Viola Davis as a badass (and scarred) West African general in the 1820s. Her character Nanisca leads an all-female group of warriors called the Agojie, who have some dizzying fight sequences throughout its 135-minute runtime. And there’s one Woman King death that I can’t stop thinking about.

The action of The Woman King is truly epic, with the badass group of Agojie working together in a way that is both beautiful and brutal. Perhaps the movie’s biggest scene stealer is Lashana Lynch, who fans know from other action-packed movies like Captain Marvel and No Time to Die. On top of being the new movie’s primary comedic relief, she’s also deadly in action sequences. Especially the opening battle, and that truly horrifying moment where she killed a man with her nails.

During the opening battle of The Woman King, the Agojie ambush a group of Oyo Empire soldiers in order to rescue their captives. During this thrilling sequence, Lashana Lynch’s Izogie is shown dispatching a number of enemies. Eventually she knocks down a soldier, and kills him by using her sharpened nails to impale him through the eyes. While we see plenty of violence and kills throughout the Gina Prince-Bythewood movie, this was the one that has stuck with me since I attended the world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Despite the brutality of The Woman King, clever editing helped the movie gain a PG-13 rating, which no doubt helped its strong box office performance on opening weekend. While we don’t actually see Izogie’s nails meet her victim’s eyes, the noise of that action is enough to turn one’s stomach. 

While seeing nails as a weapon is an inherently feminist form of fighting on the big screen, it turns out that it wasn’t an invention by The Woman King writer Dana Stevens; it’s actually based on fact. Director Gina Prince-Bythewood recently appeared on our very own ReelBlend podcast, where she explained the background behind that visceral moment of violence, saying: 

The deadliness of the Agojie is part of what makes The Woman King such a fun theatrical ride, with the audience getting to truly immerse itself in that group’s way of life and war. In that opening battle, we instantly understand just how badass that group of warriors are. And I was immediately eager to learn more about how this unique group functions.

Lashana Lynch is becoming a bonafide action star in her own right. She recently reprised her Captain Marvel role in a small but thrilling part in Doctor Strange 2, becoming Captain Marvel in the process. Then there’s her acclaimed performance as Nomi aka the new 007 in No Time to Die, where she did more killer action and stunt work.

The Woman King is in theaters now. Be sure to check out the 2022 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

CinemaBlend sat down with the cast of “The Woman King” including Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, John Boyega, and Director Gina Prince-Bythewood. They discuss how Viola Davis acted as a mentor on- and off-screen, training for their epic fight sequences, how the pandemic affected filming, and much more! 

Video Chapters: 

0:00 Intro

0:30 Viola Davis explains the meaning behind Nanisca’s scars

2:20 Director Gina Prince-Bythewood explains how COVID disrupted production

3:35 The cast explains how Viola Davis acted as a mentor to them on this production

5:46 Director Gina Prince-Bythewood sheds like on Thuso Mbedu’s casting process

7:17 The cast shares insight to the fight choreography and the moment Nanisca blocks a bullet with her machete

10:04 Why Director Gina Prince-Bythewood wanted to have this film release directly to theatres 

This has certainly been a year for some awesome movies. We’ve had Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, Jordan Peele’s latest horror, Nope, the terrifying Barbarian, and now we’re going to continue with some awesome releases for the whole world to see. The latest film as part of the 2022 movie release schedule that everyone is talking about is The Woman King, featuring a cast that is seriously the stuff of dreams. 

We have stars like Viola Davis, John Boyega, and more as part of this epic historical drama that tells the real story of the all-female warrior unit called the Agojie, whose main job was to protect the kingdom of Dahomey in Africa when colonizers wished to overtake it. If you’re wondering where you might have seen The Woman King cast before, look no further, because I’m positive these faces are quite familiar to you. 

Viola Davis (General Nanisca)

The star of The Woman King, Viola Davis, has truly been all over. In her latest film, she plays General Nanisca, a bad-ass in her own right and someone that I’m sure everyone wants to become, because wow, did Davis train like crazy for her role in this film. However, she has been featured in many other movies and TV shows, so it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise if you have seen her prior to The Woman King. 

Her biggest roles in film include Fences, The Help, Doubt, and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, four films that garnered her Academy Award nominations, with one win for her portrayal in Fences. Some of her other biggest films that you might have seen her in include The Suicide Squad franchise, where she appeared as Amanda Waller in both films, Beautiful Creatures, Widows, Get On Up (alongside Chadwick Boseman), and more. She is also set to appear in the upcoming Black Adam, as well as The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. 

Davis has also appeared in television. One of her biggest roles was starring as Annalise Keating as part of the How To Get Away With Murder cast, but she’s also appeared in shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Scandal, and was a part of The First Lady cast, where she portrayed Michelle Obama. Truly, a brilliant actress. 

Thuso Mbedu (Nawi)

Next up on the list, we have Nawi in The Woman King, who is portrayed by Thuso Mbedu. Fun fact, this is actually Mbedu’s first film that she has ever been in, and what a way to start off her film career, alongside Viola Davis. But, Thuso Mbedu has done plenty in television prior to her role in the historical epic. 

She had a supporting role in the TV series, Scandal, as well as a lead role in Is’Thunzi and a recurring role in Shuga. Most recently, in 2021, she had a lead role in the amazing Amazon miniseries, The Underground Railroad, which was truly amazing and a show you should definitely check out if you haven’t seen it. I highly recommend it. 

Lashana Lynch (Izogie)

Moving on, we now take a look at Izogie, another warrior in The Woman King, who is played by Lashana Lynch. Prior to her role in The Woman King, Lynch appeared in several films and movies. 

One of her latest was actually portraying Maria Rambeau in both Captain Marvel and in 2022’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She also portrayed Nomi in the No Time to Die cast, as well as being in Brotherhood, Powder Room, and Fast Girls. 

Lynch has also had several roles in television, with a recurring role in the series Bulletproof, as well as starring in Still Star-Crossed, and had a recurring role on Crims. 

Sheila Atim (Amenza)

Next up, we take a look at Amenza, yet another amazing warrior in The Woman King, and she is portrayed by Sheila Atim. Like her co-star, Thuso Mbedu, she also had a starring role in the Amazon miniseries, The Underground Railroad, prior to her role in the historical epic, but has done plenty of other awesome projects, as well. 

In terms of movies, she starred in the Halle Berry film, Bruised, on Netflix, and also appeared in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness. She also had a part in 2022’s Disney+ version of Pinocchio. On television, she had a recurring role in both Harlots and Bounty Hunters, and was in The Feed, The Pale Horse, and The Irregulars. 

Hero Fiennes Tiffin (Santo Ferreira)

We have a colonizer here in The Woman King, named Santo Ferreira, and he is portrayed by Hero Fiennes Tiffin. If that middle name sounds familiar, it’s because Tiffin is actually the nephew of the well-regarded actor, Ralph Fiennes, and he even got the chance to portray young Tom Riddle (a.k.a. Voldemort) in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

However, you might know that name from somewhere else, as Tiffin is also the star of the popular Netflix young-adult romantic movie franchise, After. Other than that, he also had a part in the action-thriller film, The Silencing. He also had a role in two TV shows called Safe and Cleaning Up. 

John Boyega (King Ghezo)

Last but not least, we have John Boyega, who plays King Ghezo in The Woman King. Boyega's is certainly a name that became widely known during the 2010s, as he portrayed Finn in the Star Wars sequel franchise and became a household name, but he’s done plenty of other work, as well. 

His first major role was in the sci-fi film, Attack the Block, but he’s appeared in other movies in major roles such as Imperial Dreams, Detroit, and Breaking. He also appeared in The Circle and Naked Singularity. Boyega had a voice role on television in Major Lazor and appeared in the anthology series, Small Axe, for which he won a Golden Globe award. 

This cast is truly stacked to the brim with talent and it’s no wonder that you might have seen them all over the place, from movies to television. And, after a movie as amazing as The Woman King, it’ll only be a matter of time before we start to see them in many other projects. I, for one, can’t wait to see what is next for all these actors.  

Over the years, we’ve seen many movies centered on military units faced with a mission of life or death to go to war over, but never like The Woman King. The upcoming 2022 movie sees Viola Davis leading her first flick since 2018’s Widows as the general of a West African kingdom in the 19th century with an all-female unit of warriors. Before you check out The Woman King in theaters this month, here’s what you need to know about the stunning epic. 

The Woman King premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9 to rave reviews from critics thus far. The movie is set to be released only in theaters on September 16, including IMAX screens. Whether you’re on the fence about whether to check it out or just want to learn more about it we’ve got all the quick details to know:  

The Historical Events The Woman King Is Based On

The Woman King is based on a true story. The movie follows a young woman named Nawi (played by Thuso Mbebu) living in the kingdom of Dahomey (present day Benin) who refuses to marry a man and is then dropped off at the palace doors to become one of its women warriors, called the Agojie. 

The Agojie was an all-female military regiment that existed from the 1600s to 1904, and often called Amazons by Europeans who encountered them, as a comparison to the Amazons in Greek mythology, who were also warriors. Agojie women were recruited as young as eight years old from the king’s many wives, voluntarily or by their husbands or fathers due to their behavior. In The Woman King, you’ll see the recruitment process, their training and them going into battle along with a discussion of the problems and woes these women faced at the time. 

It’s An Incredibly Epic, Emotional And Empowering Story

While it’s always helpful to have a bit more background, you can go into The Woman King knowing nothing about the Agojie and enjoy yourself. The PG-13 movie is not one of those historical snooze fests. It’s very crowd pleasing thanks to its very epic production on all fronts, between its fight choreography, engaging storyline and empowering character arcs that are easy to become invested in and watch develop on screen. At the same time, The Woman King allows the audience to learn about life in the 1800s, in the time of the slave trade, from a West African perspective and as Viola Davis' and her Agojie sisters endure and overcome what comes with their unique position in their kingdom. Overall, it makes for an emotional, yet satisfying and exciting moviegoing experience. 

The Woman King Is Just Over Two Hours

The Woman King’s runtime stands at two hours and six minutes, but it moves and flies by. It’s not an easy movie to find a place for a bathroom break, so plan accordingly. That being said, the story is relatively easy to follow. It’s a big popcorn movie with incredible visuals, so plan your viewing accordingly.  

It’s Directed By The Old Guard’s Gina Prince-Bythewood 

The upcoming film is helmed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, and is her follow up to the 2020 Netflix action hit, The Old Guard. Prior to that film, the director began her career with 2000’s Love & Basketball before also making The Secret Life of Bees and Beyond The Lights. Prince-Bythewood is a groundbreaking Black female director who continues to open doors for representation, especially by making movies starring Black women that stand the test of time. 

Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch And John Boyega Star In The Movie 

Lastly, the cast on The Woman King is incredible. Aside from Viola Davis bringing it down with another amazing performance, you’ll see Captain Marvel and No Time To Die’s Lashana Lynch and and The Underground Railroad’s Sheila Atim as Agojie, Star Wars’ John Boyega as the kingdom’s ruler and even After star Hero Fiennes Tiffin as a key Portuguese trader. The actress who we’ll really be talking about after The Woman King is its secret star, Thuso Mbebu as Nawi, who is the young woman who we follow as she becomes a key warrior through unusual methods.

The Woman King is in theaters on September 16. It’s a rare release we’ll be rooting for at the box office and maybe even for 2023’s Oscar season.  

This fall will be an incredibly exciting time for Hero Fiennes Tiffin. The actor’s last movie as Hardin in the After movies, After Ever Happy is premiering, and he’s one of the stars of the The Woman King, which features Viola Davis, Lashana Lynch and John Boyega. With this, September will arguably be the biggest month of his career yet. As we wait to learn more about his role in the movie, the 24-year-old burgeoning star gushed about his "amazing" experience filming the historical epic. 

The Woman King is director Gina Prince-Bythewood’s first film since helming 2020’s The Old Guard for Netflix. It's based on true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries. The movie stars Viola Davis as Nanisca, the general of an all-female military unit the comes into conflict with the French army. Hero Fiennes Tiffin spoke about the 2022 movie release, saying:

CinemaBlend interviewed Hero Fiennes Tiffin for his latest movie, First Love, a job that he said he was “reluctant” to take initially because he’s become so well known for romances due to his work on After. But because the new movie featured a completely different character than Hardin and featured an approach to the genre that he thought was fresh, he took on the role. 

The rising star seems to be at a place in his career where he’s been looking to “diversify” his portfolio, and The Woman King not only allowed him to do some work within another genre but also collaborate with some seriously talented A-list stars. The actor went on to discuss his filming experience, providing details about the work schedule he was on:

It’ll be exciting to see Hero Fiennes Tiffin branch out following his stint as a hot-headed college student in four After movies. The After films allowed the actor to become part of a massive fan community alongside co-star Josephine Langford, as they adapted the best-selling romance franchise for the screen. The actor sounds super pumped to show audiences the different acting muscles he can flex when The Woman King, and I can't wait to see what he offers and how manages to play off Viola Davis and the incredibly talented group of actors Gina Prince-Bythewood has assembled.

After Ever Happy hits theaters on September 7th and will conclude the main After franchise. The story will continue via spinoffs original author Anna Todd is not part of, though Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Josephine Langford are confirmed to be done playing their characters. Also, The Woman King, one of many big fall movies heading to theaters this year, is officially set for release on September 16.  

Over the years, there have been a number of actors who had a brush with the MCU, but never ended up getting a role. This includes includes Jurassic World Dominion newcomer DeWanda Wise. The She’s Gotta Have It actress was originally going to play Carol Danver’s bestie Maria Rambeau, but due to scheduling conflicts, the actress was replaced by Lashana Lynch. Years later, Wise is sharing her thoughts on having to pass on the role. 

Back in 2018, DeWanda Wise dropped out of the Captain Marvel cast due to conflicts with Spike Lee’s Netflix series She’s Gotta Have It. When recently asked about leaving the role, Wise said this to Gizmodo: 

DeWanda Wise was contractually obligated to She’s Gotta Have It and in turn, she could not fulfill the duties of playing Maria Rambeau alongside Brie Larson’s Captain Marvel. The actress continued: 

Despite losing out on Captain Marvel, Wise’s career somewhat came full circle with Jurassic World Dominion because she’s playing a pilot in the upcoming 2022 movie. And as she shared, if she had already played Maria and been asked about Dominion, she would be repeating herself as an actress, which she doesn’t like to do. It all worked out in time! 

Maria Rambeau was also revealed in WandaVision to have died between the events of The Snap and The Blip. Rambeau is an important character in Marvel, but she really ushers in the storyline of Teyonah Parris' Monica Rambeau, who will reprise her role in the upcoming The Marvels. After playing Maria, Lynch did have the chance to cameo in Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness as a Maria from another universe who became Captain Marvel. The actress also starred in No Time To Die with Daniel Craig.

In Jurassic World Dominion, DeWanda Wise plays Kayla Watts, a pilot who crosses paths with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard’s Owen and Claire, and later gets to be part of the combining of the Jurassic World and Jurassic Park trilogies. DeWise got to be part of history seeing the original Jurassic Park trio consisting of Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill and Laura Dern. That’s arguably better than Captain Marvel, isn’t it? 

You can check out DeWanda Wise’s badass role in Jurassic World Dominion on June 10. The Captain Marvel sequel doesn’t head to theaters until summer 2023, but we’ll keep you posted with all the movie news on these franchises as they come here on CinemaBlend. 

No Time To Die not only represents the final entry in the Daniel Craig era of James Bond, but it also represents one of the most progressive films in the 007 series. Through Léa Seydoux’s Dr. Madeleine Swann, we’ve seen the idea of the Bond Girl progress into the pinnacle of what a Bond Woman should represent. But through the work of actor Lashana Lynch, and No Time To Die co-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge, even Mr. Craig himself saw yet another improvement when it came to their vision of a modern 00-agent.

While speaking with both Daniel Craig and Lashana Lynch during our No Time To Die interview, I approached the subject of how after James Bond retires from active service, Ms. Lynch’s character Nomi gets the 007 designation. Leading to a bunch of jokes where confusion over who’s being talked about when “007” comes up, I was curious if it led to any sort of real life instances of that very same pratfall on set. Both actors responded to this question with their own round of praise for each other, and here’s what Daniel Craig had to offer, in praise of both Lashana Lynch and No Time To Die co-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge: 

As we’ve seen an unfair bit of uproar over Nomi getting the 007 number in No Time To Die, Daniel Craig is absolutely right in pointing out that the relationship between James Bond and Nomi is a sticking point that should attract viewers. At times antagonistic, but also supportive, Bond and Nomi compete to see who’s recognized as 007 among their peers. However, it’s not a regressive comedy beat that belittles either character, as one can practically see both agents primed to team up when the chips are down. And No Time To Die certainly has its fair amount of chip throwing throughout the almost three hour adventure.

Representing a new generation of 00-agent, as well as Bond women in general, Lashana Lynch’s Nomi is just as brash as her predecessor. Not only can she be more tactical in how she handles a situation, but she’s also better at adopting another persona to accomplish her mission. Her introduction in No Time To Die sees that latter skill set become important, as she’s hired to keep an eye on Bond for some very specific reasons. By the time the third act showdown kicks in, with James Bond and Nomi teamed up to infiltrate the lair of the evil Safin (Rami Malek), we see Her Majesty’s secret agents become a really effective team.

Writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s work on No Time To Die’s script deserves just as much praise as well, as one can feel the Fleabag creator’s voice very strongly throughout the film. Instances like James Bond and Ana de Armas’ Paloma bantering through the latter agent’s first mission clearly come from the tone of Waller-Bridge’s pithy pen. And, of course, scenes like where Nomi threatens to shoot James Bond in “the [knee] that works,” are also indicative of just why Daniel Craig was a staunch defender of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s No Time To Die hiring. 

Lashana Lynch’s presence in the third act only further highlights Daniel Craig’s glowing recommendation of her No Time To Die performance. When Nomi and Bond split up, the audience gets to follow both of these capable agents on their own quest lines. Switching back and forth between the two, it’s only made clearer that both of these protagonists are carrying their scenes with such style, you kind of wish they had their own movies. 

James Bond obviously doesn’t need his own film, and neither does Daniel Craig, as No Time To Die is both the 25th Bond adventure and Craig’s fifth and final outing in the role. But the future could always see the prospect of Lashana Lynch’s Nomi returning for her own potential spinoff. No one knows how likely that prospect is, but even Ms. Lynch knows that if this is the only time we see Nomi in action, she’ll have left a lasting impression on the moviegoers who really take to her action fueled escapades.

It’s all available for audiences to see for themselves, as No Time To Die hits US theaters in early showings this evening, after already opening in various international territories. Should you have already taken this ride, and need a cinematic breather from this epic conclusion, check out the 2021 release schedule! We promise it’s for your eyes only.  

No Time To Die stars Daniel Craig, Rami Malek, Lashana Lynch, Jeffrey Wright, Billy Magnussen, Léa Seydoux and director/writer Cary Joji Fukunaga discuss their new James Bond film in this interview with CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes. They talk about Craig’s legacy as 007, what sets this era apart from Bonds of the past, how they constructed his final sendoff with No Time To Die and more.

Video Interview Chapters

• 00:00 - Intro 
• 00:35 - Rami Malek on what makes Safin the deadliest Bond villain 
• 01:45 - How Cary Joji Fukunaga borrowed from On Her Majesty’s Secret Service for No Time To Die
• 03:05 - Daniel Craig and Lashana Lynch on having two 007s in No Time To Die
• 05:03 - The No Time To Die cast reflects on Daniel Craig’s Bond legacy 
• 07:30 - Rami Malek on the rumors that he is the new Dr. No 
• 08:22 - Jeffrey Wright on the honor of being the longest incarnation of Felix Leiter 
• 09:20 - Léa Seydoux on why Dr. Madeleine Swann is unlike any other Bond girl 
• 10:34 - What Daniel Craig drank to celebrate his last wrap as Bond 
• 11:10 - Would Lashana Lynch come back for a Nomi spinoff? 
• 12:00 - How A View To A Kill inspired Cary Joji Fukunaga for No Time To Die
• 12:52 - Léa Seydoux on shooting the dramatic conclusion of No Time To Die

The introduction of Nomi marked the latest strong female character to join the Bond ranks during Daniel Craig’s 15-year tenure as 007. Nomi solidified her position by taking up James Bond’s 007 mantle, to the chagrin of some devoted fans. Fortunately, this hasn’t deterred Lashana Lynch from enjoying her time as a superspy. She seemed to love her time on No Time to Die. With Daniel Craig’s final outing days away from its theatrical release, Lynch spoke on her future with the longstanding franchise.

Lashana Lynch’s Nomi is poised to be a positive change from the traditional roles women have played in Bond films. Nomi gets in as much action as James Bond himself. Being cast as the new 007, moviegoers may expect Lynch to become an instrumental player in the Bond franchise’s future. But the actress seemed unsure of that. The No Time to Die star revealed to CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes whether her character will pop up in more Bond films.

As with any Bond film, actors tend to be unsure whether they will return to the franchise. Given the splash Nomi makes in No Time to Die, it would be disappointing to not be her return at all. Lashana Lynch being so invested in the character could work to Eon’s advantage. As Lynch pointed out, they could do so much with Nomi and her story – whether for television or film. Even though, the latter may never happen. Hopefully, Nomi’s story won’t end with No Time to Die.

Lashana Lynch’s pride in the role showed how far women and representation have come since the early days of James Bond. The character brings a new dynamic to the beloved franchise. But Nomi not returning doesn't mean the actress is hurting for work. Hopefully, this new Bond film leads to Lynch sticking around after Daniel Craig’s exit. Moviegoers will finally see Nomi in action as No Time to Die arrives in theaters on Oct. 8.

The James Bond franchise has been entertaining audiences for decades, and is showing no signs of slowing down. The beloved property will finally return to theaters with No Time to Die, which will also be Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007. And it turns out that director Cary Joji Fukunaga really pushed for the movie’s female characters to have more equity on screen.

The Bond movies have had a somewhat storied history with its female characters, especially during its early stages. Daniel Craig’s tenure has certainly seen women treated less like objects, and No Time to Die will feature two new agents in Nomi and Paloma, played by Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas respectively. Lynch spoke to how Cary Fukunaga advocated for No Time to Die’s female characters alongside Barbara Broccoli and Craig, saying:

It certainly sounds like we’re in a new era of Bond. Because on top of No Time to Die featuring a number of significant female characters, special care was given to each one. That’s especially true for Lashana Lynch’s Nomi, who takes on the mantle of 007 after James Bond retires in the new movie.

Lashana Lynch’s comments to THR come from a long-form piece about the work of No Time to Die director Cary Fukunaga. The movie broke new ground when Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge joined the writing team to help punch things up. Add in a quartet of capable female characters, and it’s clear that those involved in Bond 25 were trying to do better than the franchise’s somewhat bumpy past.

As previously mentioned, Lashana Lynch’s character Nomi is far from the only femme fatale involved in No Time to Die. Ana de Armas is making her franchise debut in the upcoming movie, playing a CIA agent who assists Bond. There are also two returning female characters with Léa Seydoux’s Dr. Madeleine Swann and Naomie Harris’ Eve Moneypenny. Many of these actresses have praised the way their character was treated in the upcoming sequel, especially when it comes to being independent of Bond.

Luckily for fans of James Bond our questions about No Time to Die will be answered shortly. Daniel Craig’s final bow in the franchise hits theaters on October 8th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

The James Bond franchise has been entertaining moviegoing audiences for decades, and Eon productions is showing no signs of slowing down. But No Time to Die will mark Daniel Craig’s final performance as 007, while also introducing a handful of new characters. This includes Lashana Lynch’s Nomi, and the Captain Marvel actress recently explained why her character will still be relatable.

From the limited trailers for No Time to Die, Nomi looks like a thoroughly badass MI6 agent, one worthy of inheriting James Bond’s former monicor 007. Lashana Lynch helped to craft this new character, working alongside co-writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Lynch recently spoke about her upcoming Bond debut, saying:

Well, I’m certainly intrigued. While fans are most excited to see how Daniel Craig’s tenure as Bond ends in No Time to Die, the various characters making their debut have also piqued interest. Luckily it won’t be long before we finally see how Lashana Lynch’s Nomi will factor into the movie’s story.

Lashana Lynch’s comments to The Guardian help to peel back the curtain on Cary Fukunaga’s highly anticipated James Bond film, No Time to Die. Daniel Craig’s tenure as 007 has seen the franchise embrace serialized storytelling, while the newest installment will feature more independent and badass Bond girls. That definitely includes Nomi, although she’ll also be softened thanks to moments crafted by Lynch and Phoebe Waller-Bridge.

The pressure is on for No Time to Die to deliver, especially given the movie’s numerous delays. The first came when director Danny Boyle departed the project, allowing room for Cary Fukunaga to make his Bond debut. And when Bond 25 was gearing up for its release in 2020, it was pushed back a few more times in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearly Daniel Craig’s final bow as James Bond has been a long time coming.

Of course, Lashana Lynch is far from the only notable actress appearing in No Time to Die. The upcoming blockbuster will also feature the return of Léa Seydoux’s Dr. Madeleine Swann, whose story will seemingly be expanded quite a bit. Moviegoers are also eager to see the debut of Knives Out actress Ana de Armas as CIA agent Paloma. And as previously mentioned, Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge has brought in to help write the new Bond movies, which was seemingly a great collaborative process for Lynch.

No Time to Die will hit theaters on October 8th. In the meantime, check out the 2021 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience.

Every major franchise, from Star Wars to Ghostbusters, has experienced some form of misogynistic and racial backlash when it comes to casting news. Of course, the James Bond franchise wasn’t immune to this online hate, as Lashana Lynch taking up the mantle of 007 sent online trolls into overtime. Lynch hasn’t replied or paid much attention since the internet hate began. That is, until now, when the Captain Marvel star issued a classy response to the online hate.

Criticism surrounding Lashana Lynch’s casting is nothing new. Given the nature of online culture, Lynch seemed unfazed by the racial slurs thrown at her over the pivotal role in a Bond film. The actress made it clear that unknown people’s opinions don’t affect her. The No Time to Die star told The Los Angeles Times about experiencing the dark side of internet culture with the following:

Lashana Lynch’s words are the definition of being “unbothered.” From her perspective, everyone has their truth, and that shouldn’t affect others’ opinions on her abilities as an actress. So if someone has a problem with her Bond role due to her race, that’s their problem. From the released No Time to Die footage, it appears Lynch has put in the time and effort to be the best 007 she can be. At least she addressed the online trolls without becoming angry or hostile to them, unlike some celebrities.

At this point, Lashana Lynch has bigger worries to deal with regarding No Time to Die. After a year of delays, Daniel Craig’s final Bond film is on the verge of release. The recent trailer showed that Craig, Lynch and other Bond allies are more than ready to take on Rami Malek’s Lyutsifer Safin. The actress becoming a 007 doesn’t mean the search for Craig’s replacement has cooled down, but her place within the long-running franchise was more important to Lynch for distinct reasons.

Thankfully, the internet backlash hasn’t dampened Lashana Lynch’s love and appreciation for her role in No Time to Die. In playing Nomi, Lynch has become perfectly aware of her importance in the Bond franchise. She appreciated joining the lineage of Black female Bond characters by shouting out some notable ones. At the same time, the actress understood how young Black girls might respond to seeing her character on screen. So the online trolls were never going to deter her from seizing her moment.

Lashana Lynch didn’t compromise herself or retreat from the internet due to some online backlash. Now Bond fans can look past this ordeal and look forward to the film. Moviegoers will finally be able to see Nomi in action when No Time to Die arrives in theaters on October 8.

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Things finally seem to be up and running on The Marvels -- the sequel to 2019’s Captain Marvel, which saw Brie Larson play the titular character. The sequel’s title was formally announced earlier this year, and principal photography began earlier this month in London. As per usual, Marvel is keeping things closed off, but images (both on and off set) always seem to surface. Recent photos showed some of the film’s stars living it up in London and, interestingly enough, a familiar face was also present.

As of right now, the public knows Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani will be headlining the film as Captain Marvel, Monica Rambeau (Photon?) and Ms. Marvel, respectively. It would also seem that Samuel L. Jackson is set to return to the fold as Nick Fury. Recent photos (via Captain Marvel NEWS on Twitter) captured Parris and director Nia DaCosta grabbing a bite to eat in London, and they were surprisingly joined by none other than Lashana Lynch.

MCU fans will likely remember that Lashana Lynch played the role of Maria Rambeau, the mother of Teyonah Parris’ Monica in the original Captain Marvel film. The older Rambeau was the best friend of Carol Danvers and ultimately assisted the superhero and Nick Fury in their battle against the Kree.

Lashana Lynch’s presence is somewhat unexpected given what we learned in WandaVision. That series established that Maria, who went on to help found S.W.O.R.D., battled cancer in her later years. And by the time Monica was restored following the Blip, Maria had passed away. You can check out WandaVision and Captain Marvel by streaming them on Disney+, which you can sign up for using this link.

While a future appearance from Lashana Lynch’s Maria Rambeau isn’t a sure thing at the moment, it seems very possible, considering that Lynch just happened to be hanging out with some of the cast and crew in the UK. So how could she return to the fold if her return will indeed happen?

Resurrections aren’t uncommon in the MCU, but that’s probably not the case for Maria. If anything, she would most likely be integrated into The Marvels through a flashback. Such a scene could depict a tender moment between Rambeau and her daughter. However, I personally think it would be even more moving to see a scene between an ailing Monica and Carol Danvers, who could very well have been checking in on her friend while Monica was “indisposed” for those few years.

Regardless of how the film could utilize her, though, it would just be great to see Lashana Lynch return to the MCU. Lynch has proven to be a strong performer with serious screen presence. One needn’t look any further than early No Time to Die footage to figure that out. All in all, her inclusion in The Marvels would only add to what is shaping up to be an exciting film.

The Marvels is set to be released in theaters on November 11, 2022.

No Time to Die’s road to release has been a bumpy and winding one, but we can finally look forward to seeing it by the end of the year. There's plenty to look forward to, including the casting of Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch as Nomi, an operative with the 007 designation. While this unfortunately led to some backlash, Lynch has moved past it and is celebrating what the future of the franchise holds. Of course, the No Time to Die star is also being reflective by looking back on the legacy of Black women who have played roles in the James Bond franchise over the years.

Lashana Lynch has been candid about the fact that her position within the Bond franchise has been met with a mixed reception. But many would probably agree that her introduction into the historic franchise marks a much-needed change. Even before signing on for No Time to Die, Lynch was well aware of the impact Black women have had on the films over the years. As the newest 007, the No Time to Die star shared thoughts on how Black women have shaped the franchise and her own experience within it:

It's lovely to hear Lashana Lynch discuss seeing Oscar winner Halle Berry and Oscar nominee Naomie Harris in the Bond films. Berry and Harris appeared in mostly supporting capacities, yet Lynch’s designation in No Time to Die will be a “breaking-the-glass-ceiling” moment. Not many probably expected to see a Black woman carry the title of 007, but it definitely makes for a nice piece of cinematic history.

For the past few years, there’s been speculation regarding whether the next 007 would be a woman, a person of color or both, as is the case with Lashana Lynch. Despite Lynch being 007 though, the search for Daniel Craig’s James Bond replacement is still ongoing, despite the various rumors that have been floating around.

Lashana Lynch doesn't seem to be putting much thought into the James Bond search, though, as she has other things on her mind. She recently opened up to The Los Angeles Times about being the first female 007 during a moment of racial reckoning in the US and across much of the world. The Captain Marvel star said about being a representative of young Black women in the long-running franchise:

Luckily, Lashana Lynch will be able to channel that need for a strong Black female character into Bond newbie Nomi. As Lynch stated, she wants to bring authenticity to the roles she chooses and in the process, show the varying sides of Black women. Hopefully, Bond viewers will find a piece of themselves in Lynch when No Time to Die arrives in theaters on October 8.

Lashana Lynch may not be a household name yet, but she’s rapidly become an actress you can’t help but keep an eye on. After getting her big break in Captain Marvel, she’s poised to make big waves in next year’s No Time To Die. The British actress recently revealed that her Marvel debut was a long time in the making and that she’d actually auditioned for a few other movies before she landed Captain Marvel.

While she’s accumulated just a handful of credits thus far, Lashana Lynch has taken a bold and straightforward approach to her career. The actress got real about what her trajectory has entailed. While she had humble beginnings, she’s also had plenty of ambition. She relayed a story about filming the ABC drama Still Star-Crossed and a conversation she had with her castmates about her career dreams:

While her co-stars may have thought her goals too ambitious, Lashana Lynch knew better. She kept pursuing a role in the MCU, and before long, she was cast as Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel. The role, Lashana Lynch told GQ, was one that was hard-fought -- and came after she lost out on several other MCU roles:

Since Captain Marvel, Lashana Lynch’s career has continued to thrive, and she's now poised to have a huge career breakthrough in the upcoming Bond film No Time To Die, in which she plays Nomi, the new 007. While she’s experienced racist backlash since her role in the film was announced, she’s set her sights on the future.

There’s been speculation that Lashana Lynch could take over for Daniel Craig, since No Time To Die is his last film with the franchise. While it’s too early to know whether those rumors will become reality, it’s still a huge career moment for her and one that she finds to be delightful.

Unfortunately, Lashana Lynch has to wait a bit longer before she can formally introduce the world to Nomi. No Time To Die has been pushed back multiple times this year due to the pandemic and isn’t scheduled to hit theaters until April 2, 2021.

It’s been a hard road towards the eventual release of No Time To Die, as fans expectations for the 25th James Bond film have been blooming rather intensely. Sadly, as we’ve seen with other huge franchises like that of the Star Wars saga, there’s a darker, unpleasant side to the fan anticipation for Daniel Craig’s final film. In particular, there’s been a racist backlash against Captain Marvel star and brand new 00 Lashana Lynch. And as the actor disclosed in a recent interview, she unfortunately was ready for such an occurrence.

Speaking with Harper’s Bazaar, Lynch dove into subjects such as her initial reticence to play Nomi in No Time To Die, as well as her eventual acceptance of this opportunity as a tribute to her roots as a British born Jamaican. With such a discussion, there’s obviously room to address the nastier side of the fandom and how it’s reacted to the key news that Lashana Lynch, while not being the new Bond, is about to become the new 007. That information comes with its own challenges, but as Lynch herself confirms, it was to be expected:

After James Bond’s retirement between Spectre and No Time To Die, it seems that Lashana Lynch’s Nomi has become the new 007 after attaining 00 agent status at MI6. But that distinction can be lost on some audience members, as everyone’s so used to the “James Bond 007” brand making the man and the number synonymous. Just as Cary Joji Fukunaga’s entry into the canon of the cinematic incarnation of James Bond is set to break some boundaries and change things up with Bond himself, the 007 call number is another opportunity to revolutionize the future of this prolific series.

What’s even more unfortunate about the backlash that’s been visited upon Lashana Lynch is the fact that it’s not even anything new. Rather, the 007 twist in No Time To Die seems to have just stoked the fires of racism ever fresher, as Lynch was already dealing with such fallout back when Nomi’s big reveal was simply a rumor. Internet villainy aside, Lynch is definitely primed to have some fun with the role.

Ever since seeing Nomi in action in the first trailer for No Time To Die, and straight through to the most recent looks we’ve gotten, Lashana Lynch’s new 007 has not only shown the trademark wit of her predecessor, but she’s as lethal as Bond has ever been. Audiences will have to wait until April 2, 2021 to see Lynch’s super spy in full effect, but when that day finally comes, it’ll be historic, for sure. Though, as always, just because there’s a new 007 in town doesn’t mean that James Bond won’t return.

As far as movie franchises go, there are few quite as beloved as James Bond. Eon Production's spy thrillers have been entertaining moviegoers for decades, and are showing no signs of slowing down. Daniel Craig's run as the MI6 agent is coming to a close with Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time to Die, which will feature a handful of new faces including Lashana Lynch's Nomi. And a few key details about the character has just been confirmed.

Lashana Lynch's Nomi will be making her Bond debut in No Time to Die, and has been teased as another 00 Agent. In the trailers she certainly looks like a badass, she's got a funny give and take with Daniel Craig's protagonist. And in a recent write-up about Lynch and her time in the Bond world, it was confirmed that she's officially got the title of 007.

This information comes to us from Harper's Bazaar's piece focusing in Lashana Lynch and her upcoming role in No Time to Die. The highly anticipated sequel to Spectre has unfortunately been delayed a full year due to global health issues, but there are still a variety of exciting information coming out thanks to the all--star cast. And during Lynch's interview, it was highlighted how Nomi would be the next 007.

In the same interview Lashana Lynch spoke to the pressure of being the first Black 007. The conversation around representation has been an important one over the past few years, and Lynch explained how she approached this when it came to No Time to Die. As the actress put it,

While this information will likely inspire some fan theories and questions about whether or not Lashana Lynch would be replacing Daniel Craig in a future Bond movie. But the reason Nomi is 007 in No Time to Die is because James will retire from his career, therefore leaving the codename open for another MI6 agent. As far as how this all plays out, we'll have to wait until next year to see the movie's story on the big screen.

Given James Bond's signature bravado, he's sure to bump heads with Nomi a few times throughout the course of No Time to Die's runtime. The trailers certainly tease this dynamic, as well as her no-nonsense attitude to her predecessor. I just can't wait until they both answer when someone addresses 007.

Lashana Lynch's star power has been steadily growing over the past few years, taking roles in huge blockbusters. In addition to her upcoming role in No Time to Die, audiences will remember the 32 year-old actress from her role as Maria Rambeau aka Carol Danver's best friend in Captain America. We'll just have to see of Maria returns to the MCU, especially since her daughter Monica already is.

No Time to Die will mark Daniel Craig's swan song as James Bond, and all eyes are on how Cary Joji Fukunaga will wrap it all up. Craig's tenure as 007 has seen the franchise embrace serialized storytelling, so we should reach a true end to the current Bond's story. A ton of characters are returning in the process, so it seems like the five-film arc will get a thrilling ending.

No Time to Die is currently set to arrive in theaters on April 2nd 2021. In the meantime, check out our 2021 release list to plan your next movie experience.

As we crawl another week closer to the formerly planned fall release of No Time To Die, the ever continuing quest to find out who the next James Bond will be is also progressing. Though there’s a lot of time on the clock, considering the 25th 007 film and Daniel Craig’s final outing filling the iconic tuxedo has been pushed out to next April, just as some folks think they’ve got the next hot tip on the potential streaming future for No Time To Die, they seem to think that Tom Hardy is absolutely going to be the next Bond. It’s a possibility that’s even harder to deny with the betting odds in his favor.

But, as any fan will tell you, you can always bet on 007 odds being a rollercoaster of fortunes and emotions. To that end, it’s time once again to update the CinemaBlend Betting Lounge with a new look at the top 10 actors who feel like they could be the fresh face of the EON Productions produced franchise. This time around you can thank OddsChecker for the statistical magic we’re about to jump into. For those of you who are serious betters in the James Bond betting circle, we wish you the best of luck.

Lashana Lynch

Despite the fact that franchise producer/EON Productions powerhouse Barbara Broccoli has repeatedly said that James Bond will never be a female character, there’s still some ladies that wind up in the conversation no matter what. According to the odds you’ll find on OddsChecker, one such woman is No Time To Die star Lashana Lynch, who makes up the very bottom of the top 10 field. While that may sound like an insult, it’s anything but, as her character in the upcoming movie is a 00 agent, and could very easily have the 007 number assigned to her by time the film starts. One has to wonder if there’s a reduced odds payout for partial credit in that very technical respect.

Aidan Turner

We’ve previously seen Poldark star Aidan Turner turn up in the betting field for the next James Bond, as he’s been a perennial favorite for the job. With just enough notoriety to be a constant fixture in the running, but enough of a low profile to allow for some leverage in EON Productions’ favor, should they try for a long term contract, Turner has solid footing towards the back of the pack.

Chris Hemsworth/Michael Fassbender/Cillian Murphy

It wouldn't be a James Bond betting pool if you didn’t have Michael Fassbender or Cillian Murphy in the mix. Much like Henry Cavill before them (more on him in a second), these two have quite the history with being whispered about as a new on-screen 007. They’re currently sitting quite pretty at even odds with a newer prospect who’s come up in the ranks: Thor: Love and Thunder star Chris Hemsworth. While we’re thinking the Australian actor's Marvel gig will keep him out of the tuxedo for some time, or at the very least the next cycle of Bond films, it’s still interesting to see these three all tying for the same role.

Henry Cavill/Jude Law

Depending on who you talk to, Henry Cavill feels like one of those safe and much wanted leads when it comes to the world of James Bond. And much like Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan before him, Cavill is one of those candidates who came close to nabbing the role previously only for one factor or another to get in the way. Though, strangely enough, Jude Law is also a holdover from the Casino Royale days of casting rumors, as he was a prime candidate for the Bond honors himself back in the pre-Daniel Craig days Though, if we were to slip any skin into the game with either of these two (who presently stand at even odds), Cavill would have to be our pick. No offense to Law, but he feels more like a delicious choice for a Bond villain rather than a 007.

Tom Hiddleston/Jack Lowden

Here’s an interesting pair for you to consider in sixth place, as both Loki star Tom Hiddleston and Jack Lowden, known for his roles in Dunkirk and Fighting with My Family, are evaluated to be at the same standing. As Hiddleston is another veteran of betting odds past, he’s another usual suspect come home to roost. But Lowden’s fortunes have risen quite high in recent months, as his name has started to circulate more frequently. This could be a promising sign, especially since Jack Lowden isn’t bound by any long term contract gigs that we know of, and he’s young enough to serve a long stretch as 007 if he chooses to go that way.

Idris Elba

From here on out, it’s nothing but the usual suspects, as some favorites for the role of James Bond are just too hard to shake. While some feel that the undeniably cool Idris Elba has aged out of the role of 007 at 48 years old, there’s obviously a lot of people that still want him to be the first James Bond of color. You don’t wind up this high up in the betting odds as long as Elba has without strong fan support, and that’s something that has to factor into the decision making process for the next lead in this historic franchise.

Sam Heughan

Outlander’s Sam Heughan is another one of those huge successes that swept the public off its feet in short and swift order, only to land his Scottish self in the ranks of most popular Bond-worthy actors. It only helps his chances that he’s already been cast as a spy that was designed to take down the 007 mythos in comedic fashion, as his role in The Spy Who Dumped Me gave fan art creators a break by putting him in a tuxedo. Could this high ranking dreamboat bring James Bond back to Scotland? Time will tell.

James Norton

Previously this summer, when we took a look at another set of betting odds pertaining to who could be the next James Bond, McMafia star James Norton was the top ranking contestant in the 007 sweepstakes. But like a bad night at Casino Royale, Norton’s fortunes have been dashed to a certain extent. He’s still hanging out in the top three, at least according to this set of odds, and there is the added advantage that should James Norton get the role of Bond, he’ll be able to fall back on being very familiar with his character’s name for his entire life.

Richard Madden

While we’ve seen Richard Madden in recently notable roles such as one of the Stark kids in Game of Thrones, and as his star is about to potentially rise yet again with his part in Marvel’s new Eternals film, the six episode series Bodyguard helped put this Rocketman star into heavy rotation on the 007 circuit. Basically playing a James Bond style character in that particular show, Madden continues to be in high contention when it comes to the betting odds to the next Bond, which at the very least could net that particular series a second season. That is, if Richard Madden doesn’t end up winning the role of James Bond after all.

Tom Hardy

Still coming in at the top of the food chain is Venom star, Dunkirk actor, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy alum Tom Hardy. Folks are still pretty high on Hardy becoming the next Bond, and for the moment his odds reflect that rather nicely. With a wide variety of roles that could feed into the skill set needed to become 007, Tom Hardy isn’t a strange candidate, but he’s a bit too predictable for the honors. Still, should he be called upon, fans would be able to rest in knowing an established acting talent is in the driver’s seat, controlling the ejector seats.

Should the words of Barbara Broccoli maintain their hold, we’re probably not looking at any new James Bond casting news until No Time To Die has run its due course. One can’t blame Ms. Broccoli’s sentiment, as you can tell that she and her EON Productions family are all going to miss Daniel Craig once he leaves the series. Unless the streaming wars heat up to the point where Broccoli and company actually feel like it’s worth breaking tradition, you can expect No Time To Die to hit theaters on April 2, 2021. So keep a tab on your browser dedicated to CinemaBlend, as James Bond will return!

The James Bond franchise has been entertaining moviegoers for decades, and is showing no signs of slowing down. Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time to Die will mark Daniel Craig's final run as 007, and will feature a mixture of new and returning characters. One of these newcomers is Lashana Lynch's Nomi, another 00 agent that Bond will have to work with. And now she's teasing that the upcoming sequel will be empowering its female characters.

The Bond franchise hasn't had a great track record with its portrayal of women. Early moves were rife with misogyny, and a ton of Bond Girls have been unceremoniously killed off throughout the years on the big screen. But No Time to Die marks a new point in the franchise, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge coming in to help contribute to the movie's script. Lashana Lynch recently described this seismic change for the women of 007, saying:

Well, that's intriguing. It looks like No Time to Die is giving much more agency to its female characters, both new and returning. This includes the likes of Léa Seydoux's Dr. Madeleine Swann as well as newcomers like Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas. Only time will tell how that shakes out when the highly anticipated Bond flick finally hits theaters.

Lashana Lynch's comments to TechRadar will no doubt excite the generations of Bond fans who can't wait for No Time to Die's arrival. Cary Joji Fukunaga's highly anticipated blockbuster was delayed a number of months due to global health concerns. There's a ton of pressure associated with the 25th movie in the Bond franchise, especially the pressure of giving Daniel Craig's 007 an appropriate sendoff.

There's a lot going for No Time to Die, which is why audiences are so eager for more information about the upcoming movie. Daniel Craig's tenure as James Bond saw the franchise embrace serialized storytelling, which each release moving the protagonist forward, and also featuring returning characters. As such, fans are wondering how it'll all end, and if Craig's version survives No Time to Die's runtime.

There's a ton of hype around Lashana Lynch's Bond debut in No Time to Die, and the trailers tease that she's a formidable agent who will likely be an amusing foil to Daniel Craig's James. The actress also had a supporting role in Captain Marvel, with fans hoping she'll reprise that role sometime in the future of the MCU.

It'll be interesting to see of No Time to Die sticks with its current release date, or if the movie is pushed back yet again. Blockbusters that have arrived to newly reopened theaters like Tenet failed to bring in as much money, so its a financial risk on the part of MGM and Eon Productions. But all of the recent marketing seems to be sticking to the current date.

At the time of writing No Time to Die will hit theaters on November 20th. In the meantime, check out our 2020 release list to plan your next movie experience.

A few months ago, a report was released sharing some rumors about Bond 25, also known as No Time To Die. The detailed report talked about newcomer Lashana Lynch and more specifically shared some rumors that she will be the new 007 in the film, as James Bond himself is retired from MI6 at the start of the movie. Now, Lashana Lynch has shared her feelings about all those reports.

While the actress can neither confirm nor deny the major 007 rumor for No Time To Die, she at least is reveling in those rumors. In a recent interview, she noted:

I’m sure the Captain Marvel actress is used to dodging spoilers by now, but it is pretty cool that in with her comments to Empire she manages to keep quiet on the rumors while still passing along her full-fledged support over the possibility and “the conversation” that has been sparked thanks to the rumors.

Although it’s worth pointing out that while Lashana Lynch is being rumored to play 007, she is not necessarily expected to be the new James Bond after Daniel Craig retires from the role. She’s just the person who has allegedly earned the 007 number at the start of the movie. So far, the search still seems to be on for James Bond’s longterm replacement, and actors from Sam Heughan to Crazy Rich Asians’ Henry Golding have been bandied about for the role.

When the initial report broke, it seemed to be completely legitimate, but has since been reduced back to rumored status thanks to no one near the production confirming what is exactly happening. We’ve even seen footage from the movie since the rumors first broke that does confirm Lynch’s character has been “a double 00” for two years, but in general the last outing for Daniel Craig as James Bond is being kept pretty tightly under wraps.

Hey, if it worked for Disney+ and Baby Yoda, why not give this sort of surprise a shot for Bond 25?

One other big change that has been reported from the set of the movie, which is being written by Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, is that the women who have signed on for the new movie in roles that were traditionally called Bond Girls are now being referred to as Bond Women.

Related: The Bond Girl Is Reportedly Dead. Long Live The Bond Woman.

What we do know for sure is that Daniel Craig has confirmed No Time To Die will be his last outing as James Bond. It's also a fact that the new movie is coming out on April 8, 2020. To find out more about the upcoming flick, take a look at what all we know about the new movie.

Many franchises in Hollywood’s history have had trouble including truly great female characters into their storylines. While the 007 movies have introduced tons of “Bond Women” throughout its almost 60-year history, most of them have basically been leggy model-types brought to screen to rouse and distract James Bond in the series. With the upcoming 25th movie No Time To Die, the moment is finally shifting.

Along with Naomie Harris returning to play Moneypenny and Leá Seydoux reprising Madeleine Swann, Captain Marvel’s Lashana Lynch is rumored to be inheriting the 007 designation as Daniel Craig’s character retires from spy work. When James Bond is brought back into the action anyway, he’ll also have Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049) by his side. Wait… is No Time To Die leaving Bond in the minority gender-wise? Ana de Armas comments on the new “Bond Women” with these words:

If the 007 label is being passed over to a woman, it doesn’t mean she’ll start dressing impractically! Ana de Armas shared some excitement in the fact that her co-star Lashana Lynch is a key character in No Time To Die who has a dominant role in the happenings of the spy flick and literally wears pants. You know, in case you were wondering. Well, we’ve never seen a female 007, so it’s good to know a little about what to expect!

The most notable impact to No Time To Die is the fact that Killing Eve and Fleabag writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge has script credit on the movie. She’s not only the first woman to write material for a Bond film since Johanna Harwood’s work on Dr. No and From Russia With Love back in the ‘60s, she’s Phoebe Waller freaking Bridge. If you too have found yourself suddenly four episodes deep into BBC series Killing Eve, you know how much the stakes are raised with her on board.

Lashana Lynch and Ana de Armas certainly felt it when told THR how hard they fangirled over the writer when they met her for their recent cover interview. Captain Marvel’s Maria Rambeau felt she had some ownership for her No Time To Die, sharing the creatives were responsive to her adding her own perspective to the British agent. Here’s what Lynch said of her character:

On the flipside, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wearing a gown in a Bond movie, and Ana de Armas gets to do this in No Time To Die. The actress soon starring in Rian Johnson’s star-studded Knives Out described her character as such:

Aside from these dynamic new characters, No Time To Die will additionally be Daniel Craig’s last outing as James Bond as he faces off against Rami Malek’s villain character in the Cary Joji Fukunaga-directed action movie. It comes to theaters on April 8, 2020.

There are long running franchises, and then there's James Bond. 007 has been enthralling audiences for decades, and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Cary Joji Fukunaga's No Time To Die is the whopping 25th installment in the property, and Daniel Craig's swan song as Bond. The blockbuster will feature characters old and new, including Lashana Lynch's newcomer Nomi. The character was rumored to be the next 007 in the movie, which inspired some backlash. And now Lynch has officially responded.

Lashana Lynch had her biggest break yet earlier this year, playing the role of Maria Rambeau in Captain Marvel. But she'll enter another major franchise with No Time to Die, especially if the rumors about Nomi being 007 come to fruition. While she didn't give a definitive answer in a recent interview, she instead addressed the anger directed at her when those rumors started circulating. As she put it:

Well, that's a great attitude. It looks like Lashana Lynch didn't take any of the backlash to heart. She doesn't believe any of the hate is actually about her. And since the movie isn't even out, she'll likely let No Time to Die speak for itself.

Lashana Lynch's comments to THR shows a real maturity, and the ability to separate herself from any fan reactions. Given the state of social media, its more easy than ever for moviegoers to directly communicate with filmmakers. And when they're unhappy, the voices are all the more powerful. Still, Lynch doesn't think the issue is actually about her, but about the individual fans who reach out in anger.

Related: No Time To Die’s Daniel Craig Drops F-Bomb Defending Phoebe Waller-Bridge

It should be interesting to see exactly what Cary Joji Fukunaga has in store for No Time to Die, and if the rumors about the character Nomi come to fruition. The early report was that Lashana Lynch's character would take on the codename 007, after James Bond went into retirement. This isn't to say that she'll necessarily be leading upcoming Bond franchises, but the idea of a female 007 was the subject of some controversy when the rumors started swirling. We'll just have to wait and see if they're true.

The stakes are high or No Time to Die, as it'll be Daniel Craig's last time as James Bond. The movie needs to give him an appropriate ending, built upon the events of the previous film. Craig's tenure as 007 came with a more serialized storytelling, so it'll be interesting to se how deeply it's connected to the previous four installments.

No Time to Die will hit theaters on April 8th, 2020. In the meantime, check out our 2019 release list to plan your last trips to the movies this year.

Rumors recently surfaced that Captain Marvel actress Lashana Lynch was joining the cast of Bond 25 as none other than 007. Based on the rumor, it seems her character Nomi would be taking over the 007 designation at MI6 following James Bond’s retirement. Now one of the film’s screenwriters, Fleabag and Killing Eve creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who was brought in to punch up the script, has responded to the rumors, saying:

Well, that’s not exactly a confirmation, but it’s definitely not a denial either. Phoebe Waller-Bridge is clearly playing coy in her response to The Hollywood Reporter’s inquiry about Lashana Lynch’s involvement in Bond 25. But it certainly seems like the rumors about Lashana Lynch as 007 contain at least some grains of truth.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s answer is an interesting one and it tells you how she feels about the franchise she is contributing to. The way she sees it, the James Bond franchise is one in which new characters can always be introduced and become instantly iconic. On that point she is absolutely correct.

The Bond franchise has plenty of iconic recurring characters like Bond himself, such as Miss Moneypenny and the villain Blofeld, but not every iconic character has to be a franchise staple that originated in Ian Fleming’s novels. New characters can be introduced and become truly iconic, like Javier Bardem’s Raoul Silva in Skyfall, who is now one of the franchise’s most memorable villains.

While talking about the potential for iconic characters, Phoebe Waller-Bridge doesn’t explicitly say that she is referring to Lashana Lynch’s Nomi, however the context of her answer would lead you to think that she is.

That alone is enough to get us excited about Lashana Lynch’s character in Bond 25. Her character Nomi will presumably be an entirely new creation, and whether that character possesses the 007 moniker or not, Phoebe Waller-Bridge seems rather high on what she brings to the film and her potential to become iconic.

If Lashana Lynch’s Nomi is indeed working at MI6 under the 007 designation, you have to think that she is highly capable and will represent a very different kind of 007 and therefore act as an interesting foil to Daniel Craig’s James Bond.

Hopefully we’ll find out more details about Lashana Lynch’s Nomi and the rest of what’s going on in Bond 25, including a title, soon. The latest installment in the long-running franchise, which is expected to be Daniel Craig’s last outing as James Bond, has dealt with nothing but trouble behind the scenes, including delays, script issues, injuries and criminal activity.

With any luck all that struggle will be worth it and we’ll get some iconic characters and Daniel Craig’s tenure can go out on a high note with an iconic entry in the Bond legacy.

Bond 25 hits theaters on April 8, 2020. Check out our premiere guide to keep up with everything headed to theaters this year.

Bond 25 is still currently coming together, although we’ve known for a while it was planned to be the movie that would say sayonara to Daniel Craig’s iteration of the character. Now, it’s looking as if the studio is really going to shake and stir up this franchise, adding a new character into the fold. In fact, the news seems to indicate a Captain Marvel actress may be the new 007.

Captain Marvel’s scene-stealer Lashana Lynch reportedly has been handed the role of 007, but there’s a twist. Reportedly, we’ll be meeting Lashana Lynch’s version of 007 during the still-untitled Bond 25. While that seems pretty straightforward, it won’t be really.

We know the general plot of Bond 25 features a retired James Bond living in Jamaica. While full plot details have not been released yet, given Bond is retired, his 007 number has been handed off, in this case, to an MI6 agent who is allegedly played by Lashana Lynch.

Although Daniel Craig will still be the hero of Bond 25, it’s pretty interesting casting if the report holds true. Basically Lynch will be playing what seems to be a Bond girl, but with the 007 moniker. (Or, as they are allegedly calling it on set, “a Bond woman.”)

Per the Daily Mail – and possible spoilers – the audience will get a scene featuring M saying ‘Come in 007,’ and in will walk Lashana Lynch. James Bond will be a little more than friendly with the new 007, but she’ll allegedly rebuff his advances.

We’ve seen women in the Bond universe do field work before. Notably in this version of Bond Moneypenny used to do field work, although a mistake led her back to the office. However, seeing a badass black woman take on the 007 moniker, even if only briefly, should be interesting fantasy casting for some.

If the crew had been able to keep it secret, it probably would have been quite the big moment onscreen. As it stands, if this report holds true, there will likely be some debate as to whether 007 can be a woman and whether or not the race of the character should matter as the franchise moves forward without Daniel Craig.

It’s interesting because previously, Idris Elba – who has been a name often bandied about to potentially be the next 007 – has spoken out about how he feels "disheartened" realizing some people don’t think he could play James Bond because he’s a black man.

An official, longterm replacement for James Bond has not been announced yet. Reportedly signing on the British actress came down the pipeline from Killing Eve’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge, who reworked the script for Bond 25. Waller-Bridge has previously said the new movie will "treat women properly."

What is clear about the reported casting is that Lashana Lynch can play a badass onscreen. In Captain Marvel, she plays Carol Danvers’ pal Marie Rambeau, a single mother and a fellow female Air Force pilot. Switching from flying planes in a man’s world to spying in a man’s world shouldn’t be too much of a problem for the British actress.

The scene in question should play out when Bond 25 finally hits theaters on April 8, 2020.

This article contains SPOILERS for Captain Marvel, so turn back if you haven’t yet blasted off with the high-flying hero in theaters yet.

The MCU’s latest movie, Captain Marvel, unveiled Carol Danvers' origin story and introduced quite a few other crucial comic book characters to screen, such as with Lashana Lynch and Akira Akbar as mother-daughter pair Maria and Monica Rambeau. As fans of the source material may know, Monica also has gone by “Photon," “Pulsar," “Spectrum” and, at one time, “Captain Marvel” – the leader of the Avengers.

During the Captain Marvel press junket in Los Angeles, I asked Lashana Lynch how she thinks her character might take Monica’s crime-fighting future, assuming that the MCU decides to embrace her story past Captain Marvel. Here’s what she said:

There you have it! In Lashana Lynch’s eyes, Maria’s daughter becoming “Photon” or the next Captain Marvel wouldn’t even phase her because it makes sense within Monica’s character arc. In the movie, Monica looks to be single-handedly raised by her fighter pilot mother, who may have “lost” her best friend for some time, but it didn’t stop her from raising her kid to be strong, disciplined and… well, like a hero.

In the few scenes we see Monica Rambeau, she’s definitely comes off as fearless, takes an interest to the circumstances of the film and seems to look up to her mother and Carol Danvers, along with being unafraid of the intergalactic stakes in front of her.

Following the previous answer, I asked Lashana if she thinks we might see Maria join in with Monica on the action, since her character fits right in as a superhero as well. In her words:

There’s nothing like having a trusting mother, and per Lashana’s answer, she thinks once it comes time for Monica to suit up, Maria will step back and let her do her thing – even if she’s a badass fighter pilot who can totally kick some ass too!

If you’d like to take a look at the short discussion for yourself, you can watch a clip from the interview below:

Lashana Lynch certainly gives an empowering answer about her character being a superhero already and raising up her daughter touch and strong, so she can later trust her to potentially save the world. While it’s unclear if and how their storylines will expand in future MCU stories, Lynch certainly seems to enjoy playing with the idea.

With Monica being introduced as a kid in the ‘90s, the present-day timeline would see her as a 30-something-year-old woman who belongs among the other Avengers. What do you think? Would you like to see Monica Rambeau grow into her origin story on the big screen? Let us know in the comments below.

After a decade of Marvel Cinematic Universe stories, audiences will soon finally see a female-led superhero film from the studio, as Brie Larson suits up as Captain Marvel in early 2019. Set in the mid-1990s, the film will follow Carol Danvers while she is in an elite Kree organization known as the Starforce. As Carol also has roots in the Air Force, the film will also feature her close-knit friendship with fellow Air Force fighter pilot, Maria Rambeau, played by Lashana Lynch. Maria is also a single mother whose character has rich potential in the MCU with a look back at the comics. Lynch recently described her exciting character in Captain Marvel thusly:

In the interview with Entertainment Weekly, Lashana Lynch explained that Maria Rambeau and Carol Danvers have flown together for years. The actress has had brief roles on various television shows such as ABC's Still Star-Crossed, but her role as Maria will certainly be a career highlight. Maria has a young daughter named Monica, who in the comics grows up to be one of the most prominent African-American female Marvel characters, as she is also the first African-American to join and lead the Avengers. Monica Rambeau is known as the first Captain Marvel before Carol Danvers (who was previously best known as Ms. marvel) took the name in 2012. Now, Monica most popularly goes by Photon in the comics, which is also Maria's Air Force call sign in Captain Marvel, as displayed on her aircraft.

While the potential for Monica Rambeau/Photon to make her debut in the MCU is unlikely to happen in Captain Marvel since the film is set in the '90s, Monica could be ready to suit up in time for Avengers 4 or MCU films to follow that take place in present day when she is a grown woman. In the comics, before becoming a harbor patrol officer with energy-manipulating powers, she grows up in New Orleans, and Captain Marvel took its production to the city earlier this summer, originally having fans speculating about Lashana Lynch's role. While Captain Marvel won't be an origin story for Carol Danvers, it could be a bit an origin for Photon, no matter how small. Lynch also told EW about the female dynamic on set. In her words:

After seeing the power of Black Panther, Lashana Lynch also mentioned the importance she feels to depict a positive African-American character that the black community can trust. Among the excitement of the female-led Captain Marvel, get ready for Lynch as Maria, also alongside Jude Law and Samuel L. Jackson, among many others. The movie is coming to theaters on March 8, 2019.

After years of dashed hopes and false starts, the acclaimed graphic novel from Bryan K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra, Y: The Last Man, might finally be heading to the screen at FX, under the official title, Y. The network announced today who will be starring in the pilot, and there's some great talent involved, meaning that we're way closer to actually seeing this post-apocalyptic story finally get adapted for the TV-viewing masses than we've ever been before. Let's start with the biggest name that's currently been cast.

Actress Diane Lane, pictured above in her recent role in the film Paris Can Wait, has taken an important part in Y. As Senator Jennifer Brown in the adaptation, Lane will take on the part of a junior senator in her first term who has already made quite the name for herself as someone who is more than willing to put aside political machinations to keep her personal ideals intact. Jennifer also just so happens to be the mother of the title character, Yorick Brown, and his sister Hero. Lane received an Oscar nomination for her leading role in Unfaithful in 2003, and has become known recently for her work as Martha Kent in Man of Steel, Batman v Superman and Justice League.

Next up, in the all important eponymous role of Yorick (also known as Y) will be actor Barry Keoghan. Y is described as being a young man who easily uses his sense of humor to try to divert attention away from his problems, which are actually quite plentiful, as he appears to be the only male mammal to have survived a worldwide plague that wiped out those with the Y chromosome. Keoghan has made a wonderful name for himself recently with his work in films like Dunkirk, American Animals and The Killing of a Sacred Deer.

As Yorick's sister, Hero, actress Imogen Poots will take on the part of the hard-as-nails EMT with severe emotional trauma that frequently leads her to abandon what should be strict barriers of professional and personal conduct. Poots is best known to American audiences for her time on the Showtime series Roadies, and has also appeared in Green Room, Fright Night and Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping.

Lashana Lynch, seen above in her role as Rosaline Capulet in the Shonda Rhimes series Still Star-Crossed, has signed on to play the badass Agent 355 in Y. Her secret service agent is known for doing her job extremely well and with the highest level of professionalism, even when circumstances are dire and very unexpected. Coming up for Lynch is a co-starring role in the highly anticipated Captain Marvel next year.

Marin Ireland, best recognized from her role on the Amazon series Sneaky Pete, will be taking on the role of Nora in the show. Nora is the right hand and senior assistant to the president, and someone who's very skilled at navigating Washington's power structure while maintaining a balanced family life. Ireland has also been seen in Elementary, Girls, Law & Order: SVU and the film Hell or High Water, among other projects.

Rounding out the current cast for Y is relative newcomer Juliana Canfield as Beth. Beth is a farm girl who moved to New York to get a taste of the big city, becoming a Brooklyn-based knife maker who forms a bond with Yorick. Canfield has most recently been seen in the HBO drama Succession.

Since FX has only ordered a pilot for Y, there's no word when (or if) the show will actually make it to air, but stay tuned to CinemaBlend and we'll keep you up to date on all the latest developments with regards to the proposed sci-fi series. For more on what you can catch on the small screen in the meantime, be sure to check out our summer premiere schedule.

Before bidding adieu to the Marvel Cinematic Universe's Phase 3 with Avengers 4, we'll be turning the clock back to the 1990s for Captain Marvel. After decades of being a major player in the Marvel Comics universe, Carol Danvers is finally making her cinematic debut, making her the first MCU superheroine to lead her own movie. Brie Larson was cast as Carol back in summer 2016, and over the last few months, Captain Marvel has been assembling the rest of its cast. Originally that was supposed to include DeWanda Wise, but the She's Gotta Have It star was recently forced to depart, and now Marvel has reportedly tapped Still-Star Crossed star Lashana Lynch as her replacement.

Yesterday it was reported that due to scheduling conflicts with Season 2 of Netflix's She's Gotta Have It, DeWanda Wise had to exit Captain Marvel. Less than 24 hours later, THR has heard that Lashana Lynch is in final negotiations to take over Wise's mystery role. Lynch is arguably best known for playing Rosaline in the short-lived ABC series Still-Star Crossed. Her other TV credits include Atlantis and Crims, while on the movies side of things, she's appeared in Fast Girls, Powder Room and Brotherhood. So assuming a deal is finalized, Captain Marvel will become Lynch's biggest project yet.

With Captain Marvel entering the principal photography stage, ideally Marvel will officially announce the movie's cast soon, and with that reveal who the character is that Lashana Lynch is being eyed to play. Considering her close ties to Carol Danvers in the comics, I've suspected since DeWanda Wise was attached that this individual is Monica Rameau, who served as the Marvel universe's second Captain Marvel and later used the identities Photon, Pulsar and Spectrum. Assuming this is correct, since Captain Marvel is depicting Carol's origin story, I doubt we'll see Monica gain her own special abilities, but it's likely she'll still be an important supporting character.

Specific plot details for Captain Marvel haven't been revealed yet, but just like in the comics, the movie will see Carol Danvers being imbued with powers like super strength, flight and energy manipulation after her DNA is merged with that of an alien's during an accident. Upon becoming a superhero, Brie Larson's Carol will battle the shapeshifting Skrulls. The movie's cast also includes Samuel L. Jackson reprising Nick Fury (who will have both of his eyes), Jude Law as Walter Lawson/Mar-Vell and Gemma Chan as Minn-Erva. Ben Mendelsohn and Robert Kazinsky have also been cast in undisclosed roles, though Mendelsohn is rumored to be playing Kree villain Yon-Rogg.

Captain Marvel hits theaters on March 8, 2019, and Carol Danvers will return a few months later for Avengers 4. Don't forget to browse through our Marvel movies guide to learn what else the MCU has coming up.