How do we update Bond?

James Bond is one of my guilty pleasures. The venerable franchise has a history of amazing gadgets, insane chase scenes (sometimes with ever stranger vehicles), occasional elements of over-the-top humor...and some awful sexism.

Bond womanizes his way around the world. Each movie has its own romantic lead, the "Bond Girl." Some of whom are frankly interchangeable.

At the same time, he's a British folk hero.

And herein lies the problem. As Phoebe Waller-Bridges, working as script doctor for Bond 25 (Yes, yes, it's 26. Never Say Never Again doesn't count because it was under different licensing), said, "He has to be true to his character."

James Bond is never going to treat women well.

And changing that changes the character. "James Bond is a Time Lord" jokes aside.

The last couple of films, starring Daniel Craig, have deconstructed Bond. He's now an aging man with PTSD.

The assumption was that Craig would leave, a younger man would be hired, and the franchise would undergo one of its periodic semi-reboots. Which, frankly? I was tired of the deconstruction.

I was, in fact, quite disappointed when Craig was convinced to come back for one more movie.

He didn't want to do it. He said he didn't want to do it. So why would the studio do this?

There's now a possible answer:

This may be the last James Bond movie.

And if that is true, then it is a good thing.

I watched Bond on my father's knee. I've seen every movie, some of them twice.

But, but. Why would they end the franchise?

The paradoxical answer:

This may be the last James Bond movie.

It may not be the last 007 movie.

Because, it turns out, there may be a way to have the franchise treat women well even though James Bond never will (which is part of the interview that quote from Waller-Bridges, who is working as a script doctor on Bond 25).

Just have a new 007.

Have Bond retire or even die. If Bond dies in this movie, it would explain why Craig was willing to come back.

To which some people's reaction would be "Elba!" Idris Elba has already said he won't do it.

But if the rumors are true, then "Nomi" the character played by the amazing Lashana Lynch is, in fact, the new 007.

And what if the way to bring Bond into the 21st century is...to move on from Bond himself. To say "007 is a codename. 007 can be anyone."

In Skyfall they established that Bond is an individual. In Spectre, they let him age and get tired and retire.

Maybe in Bond 25 they will let him go.