The newly knighted Sir Idris Elba has long been in the conversation for being cast as the first black James Bond. In fact, according to Coral Bookmakers, the 53-year-old has just seen his odds of taking up the Licence to Kill next slashed from 16-1 to 12-1.
However, Elba – who stars in Masters of the Universe this week – says fans should take it all with a pinch of salt, saying audiences wouldn’t accept a black Bond, but Ian Fleming’s source material should be left alone anyway.
On the rumours of him being up for playing the first black Bond, Elba told GQ: “I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing. 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.”
Ultimately, Elba thinks it’s unnecessary to change Bond. He added: “Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke. 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.”