Lashana Lynch will be first black actor and woman to play 007 in new ‘Bond’

The name’s Lynch. Lashana Lynch.

And the British-born actress, best known for her role in recent superhero blockbuster Captain Marvel, will be getting a familiar code name in one of her next films, Bond 25. Lynch, 31, is set to be the first woman and first black actor to take over the 007 mantle from legendary spy James Bond.

Britain’s Daily Mail reported that in the film’s latest script, written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, there is an early and pivotal scene showing a retired James Bond, again played by Daniel Craig, being called back to action. When he returns to the offices of spy agency MI6, he will reportedly learn that his old codename, 007, has been passed along to Lynch’s character.

“It’s a popcorn-dropping moment,” an anonymous source familiar with the script told the newspaper. “Bond is still Bond but he’s been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman.”

Rumors of a Bond replacement have swirled for years, with Daniel Craig announcing his retirement from the franchise after the next film, his fifth turn as the international man of martinis and mystery. Many speculated and some hoped that Idris Elba would take over and became the first black actor to play James Bond, but Elba confirmed he wouldn’t be doing so in interviews earlier this year.

Lynch has had a standout year in 2019, seeing a breakout as Maria Rambeau, best friend to Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers and fellow fighter pilot in Captain Marvel.

Waller-Bridge, 34, is an award-winning British actor and writer known for appearing in and creating the show Fleabag, as well as creating the Golden Globe-winning show Killing Eve. She also played the revolt-leading robot L3-37 in Solo: A Star War’s Story.

Her script for the new Bond film is said to interject some humor into the series and pay homage to the Bond films of yore.

Bond 25 is currently slated for an April 2020 release.