While No Time To Die marked the end of Daniel Craig’s time as 007, it also signalled a new direction for the long-running spy series as Eon looked to modernise the character and his approach towards the opposite sex. However, it seems the decision to do away with one of the franchise’s hallmarks – James Bond’s bed-hopping – didn’t sit right with one fan in particular in filmmaker Paul Verhoeven.
Verhoeven is certainly no stranger to showing sex on screen with a C.V. that includes the likes of Basic Instinct, Showgirls, and his latest, the controversial lesbian nun drama Benedetta, and in an interview with The Sunday Times the Dutch director expressed his disappointment that Bond seemingly has No Time For Sex these days.
“Sex is the essence of existence,” said Verhoeven, accusing Hollywood of being “scared” of depicting sex. “There was always sex in Bond! They did not show a breast, or whatever. But they had some sex… It’s about crashing and blowing up [now]. Sometimes these movies are fun, but the narrative tells you nothing about us now. I don’t see any other thought in Marvel or Bond movies.”
The Bond franchise is currently in need of a new director as well as star, and if you were wondering what Verhoeven might bring to the series in the unlikely event he ever got the opportunity, the RoboCop and Total Recall helmer said he’d “go back to reality [with] cars that don’t leap up out of the sky” – and women who leap straight into bed with Bond, presumably.
SEE ALSO: Ranking the Films of Paul Verhoeven
What do you make of Verhoeven’s comments? Let us know your thoughts on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
Bond has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. His peace is short-lived when his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist turns out to be far more treacherous than expected, leading Bond onto the trail of a mysterious villain armed with dangerous new technology.
No Time To Die stars Daniel Craig (James Bond), Ralph Fiennes (M), Naomie Harris (Moneypenny), Rory Kinnear (Tanner), Léa Seydoux (Madeleine Swann), Ben Whishaw (Q), Jeffrey Wright (Felix Leiter), and Christoph Waltz (Blofeld), while new additions include Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody), Ana de Armas (Blade Runner 2049), Lashana Lynch (Captain Marvel), Billy Magnussen (Velvet Buzzsaw), Dali Benssalah (A Faithful Man) and David Dencik (Top of the Lake).
