Posted on 06/10/2026 1:06:51 PM PDT by nickcarraway
The recently knighted star has been linked to the role for a long time
Idris Elba has confirmed he will not be playing James Bond, saying that he felt some audiences wouldn’t “go for” a Black actor playing the role.
The award-winning actor, who has been the star of films including The Suicide Squad, Pacific Rim, and TV series The Wire, has been linked with the role for many years, with speculation building following the departure of Daniel Craig from the role in 2021. However, in a recent interview with British GQ, he discussed why he won’t be playing the part.
“I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing,” he 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.”
Regarding whether 007 should change with the times, he remarked: “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.”
The search for the new James Bond officially began last month, as casting begins for a lead for Denis Villeneuve’s new vision of the world’s most famous spy. It will be the first film since Amazon MGM Studios took over the creative direction of the character, and recently former Bond actor Léa Seydoux said she was “sad” that the company was in control of the franchise.
As for who is in contention for the part, reports emerged last month that You actor Tom Francis was auditioning for the role.
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Why not a one legged Haitian bi-sexual tranny leper with Vitiligo?
Check as many boxes as possible.
The next Bond will be a fat, black woman with an attitude to match the size of her butt.
To me its not just a black / white thing but an obvious DEI ploy.
If they want a black star of a movie — fine — then created a new franchise. I don’t care what color actors are if it appears to be genuine and organic and not some ploy to check off some box.
Which leads to another problem with Hollywood. They are lazy. They recycle movies and stories in an attempt to get easy bucks. What they should do is be creative and develop new stuff.
He did. Perfectly:
I understand Idris Elba’s perspective here and it is somewhat refreshing. But, he is probably the one black actor who could actually pull it off.
Very well said......
They don’t come much more racist than Jackson.
He hates White people and it shines through in the characters he plays.
Rich and famous and still all that hatred.
I guess maybe all that isn’t the key to happiness after all.
Agree. I read that JFK liked the Fleming books so I started reading them and saw the movies and can’t erase the impression of the “real” Bond as Connery.
Enjoyed each movie with anticipation for the next. When the plot was coming to a close in the theater screening I always felt a wave of disappointment because it meant a couple of years or more waiting for the next one.
“So you wouldn’t watch Orson Welles playing Othello?”
Actually, I had to look that up. Since I had no idea Othello, “who is often portrayed as a black man,” was a black man I wouldn’t have had a clue. As to Orson Welles, I’m sure he was great, but I don’t like material written for a different time and different audience. If you’ve tried to, for example, read a story written in the fifties, the style is generally slow and boring. I guess I’m jaded by “Star Wars.”
As to a black man playing Bond, it would suffer from the same eye roll I’d give anything that was race-swapped for political reasons. It wouldn’t matter if he was fabulous. It’s the woke factor.
Elba is a fabulous actor. Great bad guy, great detective, great evil mastermind, but suave British spy? Stringer Bell is not a suave British spy. It might be a good time to put him in charge of the front desk at the Continental.
“I understand Idris Elba’s perspective here and it is somewhat refreshing. But, he is probably the one black actor who could actually pull it off.”
I agree. The problem I see is James Bond is a well-known character. To avoid the politics, they’d have to name him something else. He could still be 007, just not “Bond...James Bond.”
Hollywood has bastardized other classical and historical films and series, ie., the black actress Jodie Turner-Smith who played Anne Boleyn in the miniseries of the same name, the black actor Jordan Peters, who played Edward VI, Henry VIII's son in the short-run series "My Lady Jane," and the black actress Lupita Nyong’o who is playing Helen of Troy in the upcoming movie "Odyssey." I'm sure there's been other instances of black actors and actresses that were cast to portray white historical figures.
“he is probably the one black actor who could actually pull it off”
Yep but if you think about it, what he’s saying is basically White people wouldn’t accept a black Bond....IOW the world is too racist.
For some black people I guess White folks will never be able to do enough......no matter what.
A bunch of jihadis preparing to nuke Kingston upon Hull? No problem. They're all white anyway.
Lucky for him audiences did not base their movie ticket purchases on race or his biases.
As of 2025 he was #1. No longer.
“The films in which he has appeared have collectively grossed over $27 billion worldwide, making him the highest-grossing actor of all time (excluding cameo appearances).” Mar 28, 2025 ranking.
Guiness Book of World Records leader for several years straight.
But...2026...
Now the top is Zoe Saldana.
Zoe Saldaña: ~$15.4+ billion
Scarlett Johansson: ~$15.4 billion
Samuel L. Jackson: ~$14.6+ billion.
Never heard of that movie. Thanks-—I think.
They'll suspend Bond for his sexist remarks and aftrt an investigation by HR, he'll be terminated. Actually, that's not a bad idea for a Bond movie.
He didn’t get there on the back of my money.
Last movie I saw him in was Pulp fiction.....and if I’d have known then what I know now I wouldn’t have seen that one.
When those stupid capital one commercials come on I change the channel.
Loud mouth and obnoxious.....nothing like perpetuating a stereotype.
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