In a world first, BAFTA Award-winning director Amma Asante MBE has become the first female director linked to the Bond franchise after directing a commercial promoting Nokia phones, an official partner for the 25th James Bond movie, No Time To Die.
The award-winning Black British director Amma Asante has numerous big budget films under her belt, including Where Hands Touch starring Amandla Stenberg and George McKay who went on to star in this year’s BAFTA Best Film 1917. She has also developed and directed a number of critically acclaimed films such as Belle and A United Kingdom.
The commercial, stars Lashana Lynch as Agent Nomi. The actress, who we last saw starring in Captain Marvel, caused a stir when she was unveiled as the first woman to take on the 007 designation and licence to kill as Agent Nomi, in the latest Bond film. Not all reactions were positive to the idea of a Black, female 007, but she responded to critics by saying: “It makes me feel quite sad for some people because their opinions, they’re not even from a mean place – they’re actually from a sad place.”
HMD Global, the makers of Nokia phones have announced that the commercial will be unveiled on 19 March 2020, “in plenty of time for No Time To Die, which isn’t released in UK cinemas until 12 November 2020”, postponed due to the Coronavirus.
The commercial, filmed against the backdrop of the distinctive London skyline, featuring St Paul’s and The Shard, gives us a teasing glimpse of Agent Nomi’s capabilities and the Nokia smartphone as she carries out her mission.
Speaking about her latest project, director Amma Asante, said: “I am always drawn to projects that portray women as strong and intellectual – Nomi is a kick-ass agent not afraid of going up against the bad guys and doing it with irreverent humour at the same time.”
