Entertainment
Melissa McCarthy To Play Lady 'James Bond': What Other Characters in Film Need a Female Version?
Paul Feig is interested in casting Melissa McCarthy as a "female version of James Bond" in his spy-comedy Susan Cooper. Sure, it's a comedy, but at least someone finds a woman worthy of donning a license to kill. James Bond is a great start, but there are a ton of other characters and roles that we'd love to see interpreted by a woman. Here's a guide to some film roles that should throw in a little bit of feminine flair in the future.
Melissa McCarthy May Play Super Spy in 'Susan Cooper'
Paul Feig is interested in casting Melissa McCarthy as a "female version of James Bond" in his spy-comedy Susan Cooper. Sure, it's a comedy, but at least someone finds a woman worthy of donning a license to kill. James Bond is a great start, but there are a ton of other characters and roles that we'd love to see interpreted by a woman. Here's a guide to some film roles that should throw in a little bit of feminine flair in the future.
The Heroine in a Major Superhero Movie
There have been few superheroines on the big screen, and it's about time that we changed that. Superhero chicks are far less rare in the comics world (though still not as prevalent as a dude coming in to save the day) which would give a screenwriter plenty of material to work with, since they clearly can't come up with lady heroes on their own. (By the way, My Super Ex-Girlfriend TOTALLY doesn't count, as it's probably setting back the female superhero movement ten years or so.)
The Horror Movie Villain
A woman is rarely the villain in a horror movie ... and if she is, it's a sexualized version like in Basic Instinct or simply an accomplice to the "real" bad guy. While, yay, good for women for not being cast as murderers all the time, it's about time that a woman gets to play the really evil bad girl in a horror franchise ... preferably one where she isn't a scorned lover seeking revenge?
A Fun, Not-At-All-Uptight Woman in a Judd Apatow Picture
I love Judd Apatow's films, but most of the women in his films come off as shrill and uptight. Somehow this doesn't translate at all into his TV work — as executive producer of Girls and Freaks and Geeks, the writer/director/EW's Smartest Person of 2013 showcases female characters who are surprisingly nuanced. Why not have one of these nuanced characters show up in a film, too?
Sherlock Holmes
We already got a woman to take on the role of Holmes' sidekick Watson on Elementary, so Holmes seems like the next best thing. We already have about a billion different versions of Sherlock out there, anyway, so what's one more?
The Stoner in a Buddy Comedy
Better yet, a duo of pot-smoking friends. Girls can take bong hits and sit on the couch all day eating Hot Cheetos, too (note: not a recommendation for either gender) so why is it so strange to picture it in a film? Is it only funny when Seth Rogen does it?
The Ruthless Business Woman
Women who are overly passionate about their careers in movies are often seen as having a "problem" — thank you, The Ugly Truth, The Wedding Planner, and every other rom-com out there. How about a woman who does more than just lean into her career — she owns it, and celebrates it, and yeah, is maybe even a little bit aggressive in it? Think the female version of Tom Cruise in Tropic Thunder. (We're not saying it has to be flattering, just less apologetic about it.)
The President of the United States ... in a Future Biopic
Just saying, that'd be pretty cool.
