The black woman who will be the next 007: Bond star Lashana Lynch looks fierce as she is pictured for the first time on the No Time To Die set in Italy  

It was revealed earlier this year that Lashana Lynch will be the next agent to take on the role of 007 in the James Bond franchise.

And Lashana Lynch appeared to confirm the speculation as she was pictured on the set of the latest Bond film - No Time To Do - in Italy on Wednesday.

The actress, 31, who will now be known by Bond's old code name, looked every inch the MI6 agent as she donned a navy spy suit and wore a gun strapped to her leg, the Daily Mail reports.

Lashana transformed into character by also sporting a pair of chunky black worker boots and wearing an earpiece, no doubt to make communication with the intelligence team easier.

Between takes she was spotted chatting to a member of the crew, as she appeared a far cry from her serious role while joking around with the female team member. 

In what's been called a 'popcorn-dropping moment', British star Lashana, will be given Bond's licence to kill in the 25th movie in the franchise, currently being shot in both Italy and the UK.  

However, it was previously suggested that she's not the new Bond, but a new character who takes over his secret agent number after he leaves MI6.

The story begins with Bond retired in Jamaica. But spymaster M – played by Ralph Fiennes – calls him back in desperation to tackle a new global crisis.

A movie insider said: 'There is a pivotal scene at the start of the film where M says 'Come in 007', and in walks Lashana who is black, beautiful and a woman.

'It's a popcorn-dropping moment. Bond is still Bond but he's been replaced as 007 by this stunning woman.

'Bond, of course, is sexually attracted to the new female 007 and tries his usual seduction tricks, but is baffled when they don't work on a brilliant, young black woman who basically rolls her eyes at him and has no interest in jumping into his bed. Well, certainly not at the beginning.'

The source added that the phrase 'Bond girls' is now forbidden, saying: 'We were all told that from now on they are to be addressed as 'Bond women'.'

Waller-Bridge, who wrote the BBC comedy Fleabag and the female-led thriller Killing Eve, was recruited to ensure the 57-year-old franchise moved with the times. She said: 'There's been a lot of talk about whether or not Bond is relevant now because of who he is and the way he treats women.