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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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Some of the ones you mentioned I was aware of, are actually worse, because they are actual historical figures.
For all the reasons stated above, I would not go see a black James Bond.
I would definitely go see Idris Elba as a new 00x. And it would be amazing. I’m having fun just imagining the character he might create. Someone like Lupin? Like Cross? Or someone completely different? No matter what he decided he could pull it off and it would be well worth seeing!
Idris Elba would have been perfect for the role 20 years ago.
FWIW, I think he would have done a better job than Daniel Craig. JMO, anyway.
Another badly written headline. He said James Bond. Anyone could be a 007.
00s die sometimes. Octopussy had one getting killed.
In the books, Bond was born in Scotland, but raised in England.
His father, Andrew Bond, was from Glencoe, Scotland and his mother is Swiss.
I thought he’d be a great Bond.
The day they make it Jane Bond though, I’m done.
I dont go for a black playing anything...
I havent purposely watched any movie because of a black actor in over 20 years. I think the last ones were with Will Smith...
The same people who produce the DEI garbage on Netflix, and in theaters, are the same ones who’ve let Los Angeles descend into a Third World hell-hole.
La-la land, with very few exceptions, quit producing good movies after 2008. Watching them, you can feel your brain shrink.
Exactly. There is nothing wrong with casting a black actor in a major role as a British spy. There are many great actors (including Elba in when he was younger) who would do a great job. But the Cultural Warriors don't want to do that. They want to turn James Bond into a black character. That is the goal.
He played a wimpy contact in Never Say Never Again.
Who cares!
james bond has outlived its relevancy...
"If they want a black Bond, why don’t they introduce them in a Bond movie as a different 00."
I had a neighbour originally from Sri Lanka who lived and worked in England for many years. He died a few years ago now. He looked Indian or Sri Lankan I guess. Anyway he told me he had worked for MI6 abroad. During the Falklands war he was in Argentina doing spy work and his non Anglo appearance was a good cover so to speak. Before he died I showed him a new car I had gotten and when I opened the trunk he said....good trunk, you can fit some bodies in there.
A considerable improvement.
They can’t make their own stories that anyone would want to watch. They don’t know how. So they hijack IPs and either make the heroes some woke version and say they were always that way—or create a new woke character that the hero(es) can’t do without to save the day.
irdis sounds like producer material
i say go young
and do a major reboot
from his early days
Let Netflix or Disney make it then. Let’s ruin another franchise!
Whatever, Clarence Thomas is a hero of Constitutional conservatives. Color does not matter one bit.
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