When you mention the list of actors (and actresses) that audiences would love to see tackle the role of James Bond after Daniel Craig hangs up his tux, most people start with the name Idris Elba. The actor, more than anyone else, seems to be brought up time and again as the perfect Bond to bring in the new generation of films. But according to the actor, not only has he never had talks with anyone about the role, he probably isn’t interested in the drama that the role might bring.
Elba is out there promoting his upcoming villainous turn in the film “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.” And speaking to Vanity Fair, the subject of 007 came up. And of course, the actor isn’t one to shy away from answering a question, or even toying with fans, when it comes to the famous superspy.
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“James Bond is a hugely coveted, iconic, beloved character, that takes audiences on this massive escapism journey,” he said. “Of course, if someone said to me ‘Do you want to play James Bond?,’ I’d be like, ‘Yeah!’ That’s fascinating to me. But it’s not something I’ve expressed, like, ‘Yeah, I wanna be the black James Bond.’”
And it’s that term “the black James Bond” that seems to be the thing that sticks out to longtime fans of the series. After “Bond 25,” it’s assumed that there will be a search for the next Bond, and there’s an outcry from audiences to see a non-white male in the tux. But with the idea of a female Bond or a 007 that is a Person of Color, there also comes added pressure and some unjust hatred. And Elba is acutely aware of this.
“You just get disheartened when you get people from a generational point of view going, ‘It can’t be,’” said Elba. “And it really turns out to be the color of my skin. And then if I get it and it didn’t work, or it did work, would it be because of the color of my skin? That’s a difficult position to put myself into when I don’t need to.”
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Elba brings up a point that is often overlooked when fans dream-cast their ideal Bond. Daniel Craig, an acclaimed actor that happens to be a white male, had plenty of expectations and responsibilities as 007. Add to the inherent pressure the fact that the next Bond could be a POC or a woman (or both), and you can see why some actors might be hesitant to take on the challenge.
We still have plenty of time to discuss a new Bond, however, as “Bond 25” isn’t scheduled to arrive in theaters until 2020.