‘Ghostbusters’ Heading for $70M-Plus Loss, Sequel Unlikely
As of Aug. 7, Ghostbusters had earned just under $180 million at the global box office, including $117 million domestic. The film still hasn’t opened in a few markets, including France, Japan and Mexico, but box-office experts say it will have trouble getting to $225 million despite a hefty net production budget of $144 million plus a big marketing spend. The studio has said break-even would be $300 million.
— Hollywood Reporter, 8/10/16

For all the money Hollywood has to play with and considering that means they can afford the best and brightest to deliver superior, original content to the screens, their obsession with reboots and sequels continue to bomb. But when it comes to those who believe they know more than anyone else and can afford to be arrogant, the lame ideas just keep coming.

While Daniel Craig is set to reprise his role as James Bond in the next film, the franchise is set for a shake-up, with reports claiming that black British actor Lashana Lynch has been cast as 007 – taking over Bond’s secret agent number after his character leaves M16.

“There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says, “Come in 007”, and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman,” the source said. “It’s a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond but he’s been replaced as 007.”
— The Guardian, 7/15/19

This is not an new idea being tossed about as Idris Elba was a suggestion as far back as 2011. He didn’t seem too keen on the idea and was very careful in his wording.

I just don’t want to be called the first black James Bond. Do you understand what I’m saying? Sean Connery wasn’t the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn’t the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don’t want to be called the black James Bond.
— Idris Elba, NPR

Good call because that’s what the enlightened are calling this latest trial balloon, but will that balloon finally burst?

We’ve always wondered, considering how many 00’s there are, why the obsession with 007 and why not introduce the adventures of 003, 008….

There are very talented actors who would be awesome as a double-0. Idris as 004, Jason Statham as 009, and even a non-Brit like Benicio del Toro as 002.

If it’s not race or gender-bending, it’s not what the Hollywood snob class considers enlightened and hip. As progressives seldom admit when they’re wrong and the Lashana Lynch “Bond” bombs, will the decision makers go back to the more traditional character depiction or will they up the ante; daring us to accept their social engineering (which THEY exempt themselves from living) retooling under threat of being called every name in their book?