Jenna Ortega Against Gender Swap: "I Want Strong Female Protagonists, Not Jamie Bond"

After the grand success of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice at its world premiere during the Venice Film Festival, fans can finally rejoice as the highly anticipated sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic arrives in cinemas on September 5. The legendary filmmaker not only directs the sequel but is also celebrating receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Meanwhile, rising star Jenna Ortega, who has captured attention with her roles in the Wednesday series and as Astrid Deez in the Beetlejuice sequel, continues to express her gratitude to Burton for the opportunity to work with him.

Jenna Ortega Rejects Gender-Swapped Roles Like “Female Edward Scissorhands”

During the promotional tour for Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ortega was asked if she would consider playing a female version of another Tim Burton classic, Edward Scissorhands. The star, however, gave a thought-provoking response, emphasizing that Hollywood needs fewer gimmicky spin-offs and more original roles for women.

"I love that more films are featuring strong female protagonists, but we need our own characters," Ortega shared during an MTV video interview. "I don't want to be Jamie Bond, and I don’t think audiences want to see these kinds of gender-swapped spin-offs. What we need are franchises with amazing female leads."

Ortega’s stance is clear: she’s advocating for the creation of original and empowering female roles rather than recycling iconic male characters with a gender swap. This perspective resonates with many in Hollywood, as the push for greater diversity in roles for women continues to grow.

Luca Guadagnino Responds to the Idea of a Gay James Bond

The conversation about gender and representation in classic roles extended to the Venice Film Festival, where director Luca Guadagnino presented his latest project, Queer, starring Daniel Craig. During the press conference, an Australian journalist asked Guadagnino if he thought there would ever be a gay James Bond, a question that sparked a strong response from the director.

"Guys, let's act like adults in this room for a moment," Guadagnino said, dismissing the question. Craig, who portrayed Bond in the last five films of the franchise, couldn’t help but laugh. Guadagnino added, "No one truly knows what James Bond wants. What matters is that he completes his missions."

The debate over the possibility of altering established characters like Bond to fit contemporary social issues is not new. However, the director’s remarks reflect a desire to avoid forcing change for the sake of trendiness, instead focusing on developing new and original storylines that better reflect today’s world.

No Plans for a Female Bond, Producers Confirm

The idea of a female James Bond has often surfaced, especially as fans eagerly await the announcement of the next actor to take on the iconic role. Despite public speculation, the producers of the Bond franchise have made it clear that a gender swap is not in the cards. The role of James Bond, originally created by Ian Fleming, is traditionally male, and the producers plan to honor that legacy.

While it’s confirmed that the next Bond will not be female, speculation continues to swirl about who will follow in the footsteps of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig. Until an official casting announcement is made, rumors and discussions about the future of the franchise will likely persist.