Idris Elba could be the next James Bond

Bond series producer Barbara Broccoli thinks “it is time” for a black actor to star in the franchise

British actor Idris Elba was previously reported to be in the running to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond, if and when the latter exits the franchise.

The rumour mill is now back at it with the assumption that Elba will be the first actor of colour to be roped in to play Craig's role. According to The Daily Star, the Bond series producer Barbara Broccoli believes "it is time” for a black actor to star in the film series.



Director Antoine Fuqua's comment has once again revived talk that Elba would be the perfect actor to step in. “Idris could do it if he was in shape,” said Fuqua. “You need a guy with physically strong presence. Idris has that.”

“It’s no secret that MGM has been toying with the notion of getting Idris in,” multiple sources told the Daily News earlier. But, Craig returned to shoot the next Bond film, which is due in theaters in Autumn next year. Meanwhile, Elba had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts with filming the TV series Luther.



While neither Elba nor Broccoli have officially commented on the latest report, courtesy of Fuqua, Twitter lit up with many people expressing excitement about the idea of Elba taking over the role.

But the Obsessed star has never suggested that he should be the next Bond. In fact, he earlier stated the next Bond should be a woman.

“I would be interested in having a Bond character other than being a male,” he said in a video published by Variety in January. “It could be a woman, it could be a black woman, it could be a white woman. But I think that character, everyone would like to see (film-makers) do something different with it, you know. Why not?”

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