Ana de Armas' John Wick spinoff movie shows how much James Bond wasted De Armas' Paloma character. De Armas' character in No Time To Die meets Bond in Cuba to aid him on a mission, and when things go south, the two spies have to fight their way through swarms of Spectre henchmen to salvage the operation. Despite only having about ten minutes of screen time, Ana de Armas' Paloma is a key player in what is arguably the best sequence of the entire film. Yet, despite her huge impact during this sequence, James Bond's Paloma isn't seen for the rest of the movie, and there is no information regarding her return in a sequel.
Meanwhile, talks are being held for de Armas to lead the John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, a female-led film about an assassin that takes place in the same world as Keanu Reeves' titular killer. It's no surprise to audiences who have witnessed her growing career that she should be offered the starring role in such a successful property. Her breakout role in Blade Runner 2049 led to an impressive performance as a co-star in the 2019 murder mystery Knives Out, also alongside James Bond actor Daniel Craig. The John Wick spinoff film has been in development since 2017, and de Armas has proven herself to be up for the challenge of foregrounding such a project.
With negotiations taking place for de Armas to star in what could be a major action franchise, James Bond may have missed their chance to lock down one of the most interesting characters in No Time To Die. The movie made a mistake by not giving de Armas a larger role in No Time To Die, or, at least, by not guaranteeing her return in a later film. Ana de Armas' Paloma opens up a number of perfect opportunities for her return in a sequel, but she is also perfect for Ballerina, and it's unlikely that a film with the potential of a John Wick spinoff would want to share their star with another major action franchise.
Ana de Armas' breakout role only came in 2017 as the semi-iconic Joi in Blade Runner 2049, but her meteoric rise in Hollywood has seen her become a highly sought-after talent for major feature films. Given that she has already established herself as a gifted actor capable of leading a star-studded cast in Knives Out, it's no surprise that she stands out as Paloma, with some even arguing that No Time To Die introduced the perfect female Bond with her character. Many viewers, however, were shocked that the intriguing spy never reappeared, and the astonishment continues when fans realize that the studio hasn't even signed her on for additional films. Ana de Armas' Paloma is a charming and mysterious character that almost begs for further development, but James Bond will likely never get the chance to properly explore the captivating femme fatale.
The John Wick franchise has curated a massive fanbase since the first film released in 2014. The mounting success of the series suggests that the John Wick spinoff, Ballerina, will be another high-budget project with similar potential. Ana de Armas would make be an ideal star for the project in the world of John Wick because, in addition to her undeniable talent, her popularity in other big projects could attract viewers who might otherwise pass up an assassin flick. It's unlikely, however, that a project with the great potential of Ballerina would want to share their leading lady with a competing action franchise. If James Bond ever had any intention of Paloma returning to the series, they have almost certainly missed their chance to keep de Armas for the role.
No Time To Die should have anticipated the popularity of Ana de Armas' Paloma and locked her down for future appearances. Certainly, Daniel Craig, who starred alongside her in Knives Out, should have been able to predict the mysterious likability that she would bring to the role and urged the studio to sign de Armas on for Bond 26 -- or even give her a larger role in Bond 25. Unfortunately, for James Bond's Paloma, the character will likely be wasted, as Ana de Armas further demonstrates her action hero talents in the John Wick spinoff.