RACHEL WEISZ: 'JAMES BOND SHOULD NEVER BECOME A JANE'

THE CURRENT 007 IS EXPECTED TO STEP DOWN AFTER ONE MORE MOVIE. Daniel Craig's actress wife Rachel Weisz has urged 007 fans to stop calling for a Jane Bond because she thinks the idea of a female taking over from her man is a bad idea.

With Craig bowing out as James Bond after one final movie, the race is on to find his successor - and some people are convinced the time is perfect for a sex change.

But Weisz, who gets to hang out with the man behind Bond whenever she wants, insists a female 007 wouldn't be true to author Ian Fleming's suave superspy, who first appeared in the writer's 1952 novel Casino Royale.

"He (Fleming) devoted an awful lot of time to writing this particular character, who is particularly male and relates in a particular way to women," Rachel tells ScreenRant. "Why not create your own story rather than jumping on to the shoulders and being compared to all those other male predecessors?"

"Women are really fascinating and interesting and should get their own stories," she adds.

Meanwhile, newly-engaged Idris Elba remains a fan favourite to take over from Daniel Craig, becoming the first black Bond, even though he insists he has heard nothing official and fears he might be too old to play 007.

If Bond bosses decide to experiment with a female Bond, The X-Files' Gillian Anderson has made it clear she would be very interested, while Charlize Theron appeared to be auditioning for the role in last year's (17) Atomic Blonde.

Meanwhile, the big screen's former Bond boss Dame Judi Dench appears to agree with Weisz, telling The Sun recently 007 should always be played by a man.

But U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May is among those who would like to see a female in the role: "One day there should be a female James Bond," she recently said.