Idris Elba as James Bond casting rumors: the complete wild timeline

“Who should play James Bond?” is perhaps the ultimate casting conversation. Since 1967’s It’s a Twice-A-Lifetime ExperienceThe series starred Sean Connery as a tired actor. Since then, questions have been floating around about the show. Connery’s exhaustion with Bond led to the one-and-done casting of George Lazenby in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and then the OG 007 returns for Diamonds Are Forever.

Roger Moore became the main star in this back-and forth. Let’s Live!Bond is a versatile role which can be changed with every actor. And in the wake of 2021’s You have no choice but to live.This was the end of the Daniel Crag era, but the issue has returned. Bond: Who should it be? Barbara Broccoli is a veteran franchise producer and has amazing things to say regarding IdrisElba, the perennial replacement candidate.

“We know Idris … he’s a magnificent actor,” Broccoli told Deadline’s CrewCall podcast. She pointed out that It Wire And Luther star has “been part of the conversation, but it’s always difficult to have a conversation when you have somebody in the seat,” Broccoli said.

That somebody has been Craig, who broke a much smaller barrier than “First Black Bond” by becoming the first blond Bond in 2005’s Casino Royale. That such a detail was even noted — ”Connery backs blond Bond” went the Guardian headline — gives a sense of how carefully the character’s identity has been tracked.

A lot has happened between 2005 and 2021, when Craig’s run ended in explosive fashion in Die Another Day, The 2008 election of Barack Obama seems to have sparked the first public discussion of a Black Bond. Attended the Italian premiere Quantam of Solace Craig said that “after Barack Obama’s victory I think we might have reached the moment for a colored 007,” using language he would probably change in 2022. He also added that the “eventuality” of a Black Bond would probably make original Bond author Ian Fleming “turn in his grave.”

(To the point of his personal evolution, in 2021, he weighed back in on the Bond identity issue, saying, “There should simply be better parts for women and actors of colour. Why should a woman play James Bond when there should be a part just as good as James Bond, but for a woman?”)

Jumping on Craig’s comments, the media began scanning for possible candidates. Elba had fascinated both critics as well as a small group of originals. Wire Stringer Bell also made significant progress in American mainstream TV. The Office In 2009. His movie with Ali Larter and Beyonce, ObsessedThe same year that, was released, The Guardian asked Elba a question that would be a perennial one: Does he wish to play Bond?

“Who wouldn’t like to play Bond?,” he responded. “Do I think it will happen? No, but I’ve got what it takes to do it. I’m able to run, kiss ladies and enjoy a drink. Plus I’m English.”

Elba stated his desire to The Mail Sunday, 2010. While it would be a “huge compliment to be asked,” he “wouldn’t be interested if it was simply a case of them deciding it was time for a black James Bond. I can do without ‘the black James Bond’ label.” After all, Elba reasoned, “they didn’t call Daniel Craig the blond Will Smith.”

By the next year, NPR was reporting that “chatter has circulated for years that Elba could one day wind up playing one of the most iconic British film roles there is: James Bond.” Elba gave a similar answer, delving more into the character’s casting history, noting that “Sean Connery wasn’t the Scottish James Bond.”

But when asked if he would get into a cab to take a meeting, he began to show some excitement for the role: “I’d take the taxi driver out of the car, hostage, jump out while it was moving, jump onto a pedal bike that was just past the door as I got on it, and then get onto a plane — On the wings — land on top of Sony Studios, slide through the air conditioning, and land in the office.”

Jason Merritt/Getty Images Turner

Craig’s tenure as Bond lacked the drama of the Connery-Lazenby-Connery-Moore years, but the actor wasn’t always happy with the role. When 2012 arrived, Skyfall finally premiered after delays, Craig had mentioned to Rolling Stone how he had “been trying to get out of this from the very moment I got into it, but they won’t let me go.”

Hacked Sony emails in 2014 revealed that Sony chief Amy Pascal had written an email stating her preference, saying that “Idris should be the next bond,” which sent the rumor mill into overdrive, including a cultural backlash. First led by conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, the backlash pointed directly to Fleming’s character: “he was white and Scottish, period. That is who James Bond is,” Limbaugh said. “I know it’s racist to probably even point this out.”

The backlash led to some Bondworld allies, such as Yaphet Khotto, the first Black American Bond villain. “James Bond was established by Ian Fleming as a white character, played by white actors. It is possible to play 003 or 026, but it’s not possible to be 007. Many believe that we should have the right to try everything. Don’t be ridiculous. You should laugh at me if I claim I would like to play JFK.

“Black men should stop trying to play roles created by whites,” Kotto told The Big Issue.

Elba was also attacked by Anthony Horowitz who was the Fleming Estate’s chosen writer to write. Trigger MortisA new Bond novel, published in 2015. “For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It’s not a color issue. I think he is probably a bit too “street” for Bond,” Horowitz told The Mail on Sunday. He later apologized to Elba, saying Elba’s performance in Luther When he chose his words, he had his thoughts in his head.

Although the Elba as-Bond culture war has ended, there are still rumors. In 2016, the man who once said he could run around, flirt, and drink enough to be Bond, told Good Morning America, “I think I’m too old for that man, running around in cars and ladies and martinis. It’s a terrible idea. Sounds terrible.”

The rumors that Broccoli wanted Elba were resurgent in 2018. In fact, Elba himself posted two tweets. First, a stylized selfie captioned with, “my name’s Elba, Idris Elba.” He then tweeted “Don’t believe the HYPE,” doing his best to calm the rumor that has as many lives as a certain secret agent. With roles ranging from Bloodsport to Knuckles, another franchise isn’t exactly a thing Idris Elba needs at this point.

Here’s how long Idris Elba has been rumored to play James Bond: two of the most outspoken critics of the idea, Limbaugh and Kotto, are now dead. Elba was first asked about Bond when he was 37; he’s now 49. Craig could leave the franchise according to his terms. Elba could join the franchise in the near future.