Idris Elba Slams James Bond Casting Speculation: ‘Let’s Not Try and Make It Woke’

Idris Elba declares it “not a realistic thing” for a black actor to step into the shoes of James Bond, slamming the persistent rumors surrounding his potential casting.

In a recent interview with British GQ, Elba stated, “James Bond was written how he was written for a reason.” He dismissed the speculation about him playing 007 as “never legit” and “always just a rumor.”

Elba, 53, pointed out that “some markets just don’t go for that,” emphasizing the global reach of the Bond franchise. He insisted that audiences wouldn’t accept a black man in the iconic role.

“That’s not what they like in their culture,” he asserted. “Period.”

The “Masters of the Universe” star argued against altering the character of James Bond. He stated, “Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke.”

Elba believes in maintaining the essence of Bond as escapism. “Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond,” he urged.

Back in 2015, Elba was more receptive to the idea of playing Bond when casting rumors first emerged. He remarked, “If human beings want to know if there’s any connectivity between all of us, the one thing I’ve heard around the world universally is that, ‘You’ll be great at James Bond.’”

He added, “If it should happen, that’s proof there’s connectivity amongst human beings. If everyone wants something, they can make it happen.”

Fast forward to 2023, Elba expressed mixed feelings about the Bond rumors on the “SmartLess” podcast. While he felt “super complimented,” he also noted the negative racial backlash that accompanied the speculation.

“Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race,” he explained. “It became about nonsense, and I got the brunt of it.”

Daniel Craig recently retired from the role after his final performance in 2021’s “No Time to Die.”

Before Craig, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, and Pierce Brosnan all portrayed Bond.

Amazon took control of the Bond franchise from longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson last year and is currently searching for the next actor to embody 007.

Among those rumored for the role are Aaron-Taylor Johnson, Henry Cavill, Jacob Elordi, Callum Turner, and Theo James.