I'm not sure anything sets a precedent for how a fictional character must be portrayed in perpetuity. "Forever," is a very, very long time. I don't know what piece of fiction is so sacred that it cannot be played around with.
Exactly. Every character is subject to reinterpretation. Hamlet. Bond. King Arthur. Nick Fury. Hermione. Robin Hood. Perry White. Jimmy Olsen.
Anyone who insists that characters not be reinterpreted is in for a hell of a lot of disappointment. It's what we do, and what we will always do.
The change from campy Roger Moore to gritty Daniel Craig is far greater than a change from Craig to Idris Elba would be.