# Former James Bond Casting Director Defends Keeping Classic Character

Debbie McWilliams, who cast actors for the James Bond franchise, insists the character should remain as Ian Fleming originally wrote him. Her comments add to the ongoing debate about modernizing the iconic spy vs. preserving his traditional traits.

**Importance:** 2/5

## Sources

### Entertainment
- [Variety](https://variety.com/2026/film/global/debbie-mcwilliams-james-bond-007-karlovy-vary-1236806461/) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 14:48:39 +0000