Cool cars, fancy gadgets, explicitly made alcoholic beverages and steamy sex scenes are all hallmarks of the James Bond film series, and I expect they will all be present for next year’s Bond 25. It’s that latter point, though, that may be undergoing some changes behind-the-scenes for Cary Joji Fukunaga’s movie if a new rumor is to be believed. That’s because Bond 25 has reportedly hired an ‘Intimacy Coordinator’ for its sex scenes.
According to The Sun, Bond 25 will be employing an Intimacy Coach to make the actors feel comfortable during sex scenes, a first for the franchise. The story went on to say that Bond producer Barbara Broccoli and the team behind the film wanted to bring the franchise up to speed in the #MeToo era, and that the hiring of an Intimacy Coordinator is testament to that.
The Intimacy Coordinator would go through the script with the actors participating in the sex scenes, namely Daniel Craig and new Bond Girl Ana De Armas, to make sure that they feel comfortable and have whatever support they need on set. This story should be treated as rumor until we have official confirmation from Eon Productions, MGM, Barbara Broccoli or Cary Joji Fukunaga, but it is a move that would certainly make sense.
This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Intimacy Coordinators. as the title and job entered our lexicon last year. HBO, the premium cable network known for having sex scenes in its shows and movies, announced that any of its productions involving sexually intimate scenes would have an Intimacy Coordinator from then on.
The role of the Intimacy Coordinator was described as someone who mediates between the actors, directors, producers and crew regarding sex scenes. On The Deuce, Intimacy Coordinator Alicia Rodis reviewed the script and discussed and coordinated the scenes with the actors, as well as notified them of any last-minute script changes. The Intimacy Coordinator is also an advocate for the actors as these scenes are worked through.
If Bond 25 has employed an Intimacy Coordinator, that person would presumably fulfill a similar function to make everyone feel comfortable (although probably still awkward) and safe during sex scenes.
James Bond is one of fiction’s most notorious womanizers and although he isn’t known for treating women well, that should not hold true of the Bond films. Both the women and the men acting in sex scenes should feel comfortable, informed and prepared for what they have to do without being pressured into anything else.
It would be a progressive move for Bond 25 and one that is frankly a no-brainer. The production spends a little extra money to hire an Intimacy Coordinator, the actors get support to feel comfortable during sex scenes and the production still gets the scenes it needs, as well as some positive PR for taking such a step. For that latter reason, if this rumor is true, I imagine we will hear some sort of confirmation before the film comes out.
Bond 25 recently had to suspend production after Daniel Craig suffered an injury, but it is fortunately not expected to be for too long so hopefully the film will still hit its release date.
Bond 25 opens in theaters on April 8, 2020. For movies arriving a little sooner, check out our 2019 Release Schedule.
