Bond-Troversy Continues

October 17, 2006

British actor Colin Salmon has accused the production company behind James Bond of racism, after reports he was snubbed for the role of the debonair super agent because he is black

Salmon — who appeared in Die Another Day as spy Charles Robinson — had been rumoured to replace Pierce Brosnan as 007 in the upcoming Casino Royale, the World Entertainment News Network reports. The outgoing Brosnan even gave Salmon his endorsement, before the studio went with current Bond, Daniel Craig.

Now, Salmon alleges producers chose Craig because they worried fans would reject a black Bond.

“It's a shame I didn't get the part. But there will never be a black Bond,” he says. “God, they can't even have a blond Bond without everyone going crazy.”

A spokeswoman for EON, the production company behind Bond denies the allegation: “I think it's a rather below the belt allegation and I can't believe Colin has suggested it.

“Since it wasn't impossible for there to be a blond Bond, then it's not impossible for there to be a black Bond.”