By Sam Peters, NCS
(NCS) — British actor Idris Elba, who has lengthy been rumored to be within the working to play James Bond, has stated that audiences wouldn’t “go for a Black male, an African male” playing the 007 spy.
There’s been years of hypothesis as to who might tackle the Bond position after Daniel Craig’s final run within the 2021 film “No Time to Die,” with recommendations it must be a non-White or feminine actor.
Speaking about the opportunity of a Black actor playing the position, Elba told GQ Magazine: “I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing.”
“James Bond was written how he was written for a reason,” Elba, 53, stated within the interview printed Monday.
“But I was complimented by it. And also, I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that. Bond is big all over the world. And (audiences) won’t (all) go for a Black male, an African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period.”
Asked in regards to the Bond hypothesis that has been swirling round Elba for years, he stated: “It was never legit. It was always just a rumor.”
He additionally questioned whether or not the position ought to change.
“Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke. I think you’ve got to be pure to what it is: escapism. Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond,” he stated.
Elba rose to fame via his roles as Stringer Bell in “The Wire” and DCI John Luther in “Luther,” for which he received a Golden Globe in 2012.
He has beforehand spoken about the opportunity of playing Bond. On a 2023 episode of the “Smartless” podcast, he stated he felt “super complimented for a long time” by the suggestion, however “it became about race.”
Amazon MGM Studios took creative control of the Bond franchise final 12 months, forming a three way partnership with Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli. Last June, it was introduced that Denis Villeneuve would direct the most recent installment of the franchise.
Amazon MGM Studios stated final month that the casting course of for the following Bond had begun.
Elba shouldn’t be the one actor to be tipped to take over the position. Henry Cavill and Cillian Murphy have been urged as potential successors. Murphy starred in “Peaky Blinders,” whose author and govt producer Steven Knight is the screenwriter of the brand new Bond movie.
Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Harris Dickinson have additionally been hotly tipped to be within the working.
The-NCS-Wire
™ & © 2026 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.