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Idris Elba Responds to James Bond Casting Rumors, Questions If He's Handsome Enough for the Job
E! Online ^ | 12/27/14 | Mike Vulpo

Posted on 12/27/2014 7:06:21 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum

Idris Elba, Twitter Twitter

Have you heard the news? Some people really want Idris Elba to become the next James Bond!

Although Daniel Craig is still signed on for the job, many in and out of Hollywood have spoken out about the possible casting choice. Yes, we're looking at you Rush Limbaugh.

But regardless of what you've seen, heard or read, Elba himself has something to say about the speculation and it may not be what you were expecting.

"Isn't 007 supposed to handsome?" he tweeted from his car Saturday morning while rocking a beanie and a scruffy beard. "Glad you think I've got a shot! Happy New year people."

Ummm, did we miss something? We pretty much love Elba, even with his rugged look. Besides, that sense of humor doesn't hurt things either.

PHOTOS: Movies we can't wait to see in theatres 

Idris Elba, Rush Limbaugh Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic; Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank

According to The Daily Beast, Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal allegedly wrote an email to the distributor of the 007 franchise. In the letter, Pascal reportedly stated that "Idris should be the next bond."

While some have been quick to support the possible casting, others like Limbaugh have major concerns.

"Now [they are] suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton, rather than a white from Scotland. But that's not who James Bond is," he proclaimed. "I know it's racist to probably point this out."

PHOTOS: Let's check out these James Bond babes

For the record, Elba has spoken out about the rumors before. During a Reddit AMA, the actor was asked if he would take on the highly coveted role. His response? "Yes, if it was offered to be, absolutely."

But before you get too excited, Elba had one concern about taking on the part.

"I just don't want to be called the first black James Bond. Do you understand what I'm saying?" he shared. "Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."

Don't worry, Idris. Craig has reportedly signed on for one more installment of the popular franchise that won't be released until November 2015. Hollywood has some time to figure out the future. 


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chat; idriselba; jamesbond; limbaugh; rush; rushlimbaugh
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To: proud American in Canada; molson209

This is what is called “killing the goos that laid the Golden Eye. . . “ or something like that.


41 posted on 12/27/2014 9:20:08 PM PST by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users contnue...)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Well, it isn’t as PC as having James Bond being played as a Black, American indian, Muslim. . . Transsexual Female, but give them time, they’ll get there.


42 posted on 12/27/2014 9:24:04 PM PST by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft insult free zone... but if the insults to Mac users contnue...)
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To: BookmanTheJanitor
enjoyed him a lot in “Luther”

He's great in Luther!!

43 posted on 12/27/2014 9:25:20 PM PST by Cry if I Wanna
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To: a fool in paradise
They've done a test clip.
44 posted on 12/27/2014 9:28:35 PM PST by Slings and Arrows ("I Only Love You When I'm Drunk" - http://youtu.be/uT-tCbvfDUg)
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To: doorgunner69

The next bond will have to be a minority, transgender, Muslim, that drinks lattes, eschews firearms for pithy dialog, drives a hybrid, and has gone vegan. The bad guy must be in oil, white, middle aged, Christian, married, into guns, laughably homophobic... Then holywood will be satisfied. And they’ll wonder why the movie tanks and destroys the franchise.


45 posted on 12/27/2014 11:22:44 PM PST by ThunderSleeps (Stop obarma now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: proud American in Canada

So the language of this bull sht means that we all have to admit that JamesBond is a racist movie... just like Obama must then mean it is cmpensate for all previous racist presidents...

Basically we are witnessing the victory of Stalin


46 posted on 12/27/2014 11:28:32 PM PST by lavaroise (A well regulated gun being necessary to the state, the rights of the militia shall not be infringed)
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To: Yaelle

“And when he takes a babe to his bed, will he stop mid-grope to tell us what her Select Comfort number is??”.

That’s funny. Good writing.


47 posted on 12/27/2014 11:39:24 PM PST by flaglady47 (The useful idiots always go first)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Idris Elba is an outstanding actor - I first saw his work on 'The Wire' as Baltimore drug kingpin Stringer Bell. So many people have praised 'The Wire' that it's become a cliche, but it really was that good, and Elba was one reason why. If he's going to be the latest James Bond, I'll be interested in seeing his take on Bond.

I suppose Ian Fleming would probably object if he were alive, but then I never liked Fleming or his novels and the Bond movies have never been too careful about respecting the books, anyway.
48 posted on 12/27/2014 11:51:14 PM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: proud American in Canada

No, stick with Daniel Craig. He is definitely good-looking enough to be James Bond.


49 posted on 12/28/2014 12:44:50 AM PST by EinNYC
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To: Nervous Tick

... Or the ‘mentally challenged’ Ruprecht Bond...


50 posted on 12/28/2014 3:17:31 AM PST by LittleBillyInfidel (This tagline has been formatted to fit the screen. Some content has been edited.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
"I just don't want to be called the first black James Bond. Do you understand what I'm saying?" he shared. "Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."

If you become the next James Bond it will be completely and utterly because you are black.

51 posted on 12/28/2014 5:27:30 AM PST by spodefly (This is my tag line. There are many like it, but this one is mine.)
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To: AnotherUnixGeek; E. Pluribus Unum
I suppose Ian Fleming would probably object if he were alive,

For what it’s worth, Fleming was at first very opposed to Connery playing James Bond on the screen, he considered Connery to be “uncouth” and too rough around the edges, the very antithesis of his character and he wanted a more suave British actor like Cary Grant or David Nivan (although both of them would have been way too old for the role at the time). But after Dr. No, Fleming very much warmed to Connery and even incorporated some aspects of his film portrayal into the books that followed, including being a Scotsman, something that was not part of or even mentioned in the earlier Bond books. But then again Connery was the only Scottish actor to play Bond. Evidently this is something that Rush is too lazy to have researched before spouting off his mouth.

IMO, people need to separate the portrayal of fictional characters on the stage and screen - big screen and small from the portrayal of real life, historical persons. But then again, all acting involves some suspension of belief.

For instance Connery did a great job playing the Russian submarine captain in The Hunt For Red October, but although his “Russian accent” was pretty bad it didn’t take long for me to get over it. But it was certainly not as bad as the on and off and on again very bad British accent that Kevin Costner attempted in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves. And speaking of that rather abysmal movie, one of the few bright spots as far as acting, aside from Alan Rickman, was Morgan Freeman as Azeem. Sure, that might not have been “historically correct” but then again the whole movie was a farce as far as historical accuracy, the movie was still “fun” if one wasn’t looking for historical accuracy in a film about a person who may or may not have actually existed in the first place. Many film buffs like the 1938 version: The Adventures of Robin Hood, starring Errol Flynn as Robin Hood, but it was also not particularly “historically” accurate if one is considering the time period in which a Robin Hood may have lived. Personally I liked the Mel Brooks movie comedy Robin Hood Men In Tights more than any other version as it spoofed all the previous film versions and I just adore Cary Elwes ; ), “Because, unlike some other Robin Hoods, I can speak with an English accent.” LOL!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX4Ik-cyp-I

And speaking of Freeman, his portrayal of “Red” in the Shawshank Redemption was brilliant although in the book, “Red” is not a black man but a redheaded Irishman, but then how many people even know that but still loved the film? And Jessica Tandy, who was born in England played alongside Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy although Tandy was neither Southern nor Jewish.

And speaking of English actors, the casting of a British actress as Scarlett in Gone With The Wind was not without controversy at the time and IIRC, but when we think of that fictional character, how many of us can imagine anyone but Vivian Leigh in that role? The producers originally wanted Bette Davis as Scarlett and Errol Flynn as Rhett Butler. Other actresses who lobbied for the role and were considered were Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Susan Hayward and Lana Turner. Ug!

Although Margaret Mitchell refused to publicly name her choice, the actress who came closest to winning her approval was Miriam Hopkins, who Mitchell felt was just the right type of actress to play Scarlett as written in the book but Hopkins was in her mid-thirties at the time and was considered too old for the part. Four actresses, including Jean Arthur and Joan Bennett, were still under consideration by December 1938; however, only two finalists, Paulette Goddard and Vivien Leigh, were tested in Technicolor, both on December 20. Goddard almost won the role, but controversy over her marriage with Charlie Chaplin caused Selznick to change his mind.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xmfLHXiAhA

And another British actor cast in GWTW was Leslie Howard who was cast as Ashley Wilkes but he didn’t even try to do a southern accent as neither did Clark Gable but on film, it works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xioy2MeugY

52 posted on 12/28/2014 5:33:35 AM PST by MD Expat in PA
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Bet you that a Black James Bond will not be as successful/popular as a Black Annie (Anniequa).

Please check the box office for Anniqua...

53 posted on 12/28/2014 5:36:09 AM PST by Cowboy Bob (They are called "Liberals" because the word "parasite" was already taken.)
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To: MD Expat in PA
\...he wanted a more suave British actor like Cary Grant or David Nivan...

Didn't Niven play Bond James Bond in the original Casino Royale?

54 posted on 12/28/2014 10:27:03 AM PST by E. Pluribus Unum (Any energy source that requires a subsidy is, by definition, "unsustainable.")
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To: MD Expat in PA
And speaking of Freeman, his portrayal of “Red” in the Shawshank Redemption was brilliant although in the book, “Red” is not a black man but a redheaded Irishman, but then how many people even know that but still loved the film?

I'm raising my hand on this one - Stephen King's short stories and novelettes tend to be better than his full-length novels and I try to read them as they are published. And 'Shawshank' was released before Morgan Freeman passed market saturation levels - for me, he was the star of a very good movie (helped by the fact that Tim Robbins is not leading man material).
55 posted on 12/28/2014 11:59:32 AM PST by AnotherUnixGeek
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To: Greetings_Puny_Humans

this dude played MANDELLA...hes old enough to portray ALSHARPTON in a new version of HUSTLER....hes not james bond more likely james black


56 posted on 12/28/2014 2:46:44 PM PST by Understand the stimulus
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To: Understand the stimulus

He is 42. As I recall that was Fleming’s fictional age for Bond.


57 posted on 12/28/2014 6:44:04 PM PST by KC Burke (I know my screen name says KC but I'm in AZ now!)
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To: KC Burke

they want him to play OBAMA as james bond...


58 posted on 12/28/2014 7:51:54 PM PST by Understand the stimulus
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Didn't Niven play Bond James Bond in the original Casino Royale?

No, that was Barry Nelson

59 posted on 12/28/2014 7:54:04 PM PST by Oztrich Boy (Television: Teacher, Mother, Secret Lover)
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To: Understand the stimulus

zeri WISHES he looked like Idris Elba.

zero looks like a big eared, wussy girl.


60 posted on 12/28/2014 7:55:27 PM PST by Reddy (B.O. stinks)
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