Ana De Armas' Paloma was one of the best elements of No Time To Die, but the contrast that makes her such a terrific pairing with Daniel Craig’s James Bond would be a problem if she were to return for Bond 26. The next James Bond movie isn't in development yet, with producer Barbara Broccoli taking her time to find the new 007 following the departure of Daniel Craig. While it's not unheard of for popular supporting Bond characters to stay on even after the actor playing Bond himself steps down, Ana De Armas' Paloma just wouldn't have the same impact in Bond 26.

Though she only appeared for only about 10 minutes in No Time To Die, Ana De Armas' Paloma managed to establish herself as the standout new character in Daniel Craig's final 007 film. After feigning naivety and inexperience in the field, she quickly shows that she's more than capable of looking after herself. Paloma essentially leads James Bond through the mission, exhibiting eloquent yet deadly moves while perfectly subverting the standard Bond Girl tropes. Given how No Time To Die ends, Craig won't be back for Bond 26, however, the popularity of Ana De Armas' Paloma with fans suggests demand for her to return in some capacity.

Related: Has Paloma Really Just Had 3 Weeks Training Before No Time To Die?

The problem with Paloma returning for Bond 26 is that the dynamic between her and 007 wouldn't work with a younger actor playing James Bond. She's wonderful in No Time To Die, but one of the main facets that make her work so well as a character is her freshness in contrast to Daniel Craig's older, more world-weary Bond. He's been through the mill over the course of five James Bond movies and has seen it all. The exuberance and finesse with which Ana De Armas' Paloma takes down the bad guys catch Bond off guard. She's a breath of fresh air to fight next to after a career of essentially doing things himself. Conversely, a younger James Bond—presumably in the early stages of his 007 status—paired with Paloma for Bond 26 wouldn't have the same impact. They'd cancel each other out.

Daniel Craig and Ana de Armas in No Time To Die

With Bond 26 all but certain to be another hard reboot of the James Bond series, the chances of Ana De Armas' Paloma returning are slim to begin with. However, the popularity of Judi Dench's M meant she was retained for Craig's run despite starting out during Pierce Brosnan's tenure. Similarly, the beloved Desmond Llewelyn as Q equipped five different Bonds over the course of four decades. It, therefore, seems counterintuitive to label the best part of one James Bond movie as a problem for the next. Notwithstanding this, Ana De Armas' Paloma is best left as a shining part of No Time To Die, then risk diluting her legacy among Bond's list of allies.

Paloma wasn't the only character in No Time To Die that left a positive impression. Lashana Lynch's Nomi (aka the new 007) gave James Bond a run for his money. Either character would be worthy of her own spin-off movie, however, the Bond filmmakers have historically been averse to expanding the franchise into this territory. While Ana De Armas’ return for Bond 26 would be a problem, she does have another chance on the horizon to repeat Paloma's Bond success, with the Russo brothers’ The Gray Man potentially the next great spy movie franchise.

Next: No Time To Die Was Right To Give Ana De Armas Such A Small Role