Bond 25: Phoebe Waller-Bridge says film must 'treat women properly'

Franchise is relevant but 'has got to grow', says Waller-Bridge

Phoebe Waller-Bridge wants the James Bond franchise to give its female characters the respect they deserve.

The Fleabag creator, who has been tapped to polish the James Bond 25 script, told Deadline she believes the spy is still as relevant as ever – while acknowledging it’s time for the franchise to evolve.

“There’s been a lot of talk about whether or not [the Bond franchise] is relevant now because of who he is and the way he treats women,” she told the website.

“I think that’s bollocks. I think he’s absolutely relevant now. It has just got to grow.

“It has just got to evolve, and the important thing is that the film treats the women properly.”

She added in reference to 007: “He doesn’t have to. He needs to be true to this character.”

Bond 25, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, is scheduled to be released in April 2020.

It is expected to be Daniel Craig’s final outing as 007.

The film also stars Rami Malek as its villain, Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomie Harris as Miss Moneypenny, Léa Seydoux as Madeleine Swann and Ben Whishaw as Q.