Idris Elba is placing these James Bond rumors to mattress.
The 53-year-old acclaimed actor — who tends to play heroic characters and presently stars in “Masters of the Universe” alongside Nicholas Galitzine — has been tipped to take over the 007 position since earlier than Daniel Craig’s departure in 2021. However in a brand new cover interview with British GQ, Elba says the rumors had been “never legit.”
“I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing,” he advised British GQ. “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.”
However he additionally mentioned he doesn’t essentially assume that Bond ought to change. “Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke,” Elba continued. “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 rumor mill as to who would be the subsequent Bond has been heating up as auditions have formally began. Prolific casting director Nina Gold (“Game of Thrones,” “The Crown”) is main the cost for Amazon MGM Studios, who took inventive management of the franchise final 12 months. The subsequent Bond film is about to be directed by “Dune” helmer Denis Villeneuve, and Selection has heard that he and the studio are on the lookout for somebody on the youthful aspect to step into Bond’s sneakers. Tom Francis, the 26-year-old British actor finest recognized for his Olivier-winning position reverse Nicole Scherzinger within the stage musical “Sunset Boulevard,” has already auditioned, a source told Variety last month. Different stars closely rumored to be within the combine embrace Jacob Elordi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Callum Turner.
Learn Elba’s full British GQ interview here.
