Idris Elba has poured cold water on speculation that he was ever in serious contention to succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond. The 53-year-old actor, currently promoting the new film Masters of the Universe, told British GQ that talk of him taking the role was “never legit”.
“I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing,” Elba said. “James Bond was written how he was written for a reason. 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.”
The Luther star also argued that the character should not undergo significant modernisation from Ian Fleming’s original creation. “Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke,” he said. “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.”
His remarks come as Amazon MGM advances its reboot of the franchise. Last month, veteran casting director Nina Gold was brought on board, joining director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Steven Knight. A source told Variety that 26-year-old Tom Francis has already auditioned, while Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi and Callum Turner are also understood to be in contention.
