British actor Idris Elba has shared his thoughts on the possibility of a Black actor playing the iconic role of James Bond. In a recent interview with GQ Magazine, Elba stated that he believes audiences would not accept a Black male, specifically an African male, playing the 007 spy.

Elba’s Comments

Elba, 53, expressed that he has always felt that a Black actor playing Bond is not a realistic thing, citing that James Bond was written in a specific way for a reason. He also mentioned that some markets may not be receptive to the idea of a Black male playing the role, given the cultural context.

Elba rose to fame through his roles as Stringer Bell in “The Wire” and DCI John Luther in “Luther,” for which he won a Golden Globe in 2012. He has previously spoken about the possibility of playing Bond, but now seems to be downplaying the idea.

The Bond franchise is currently under the creative control of Amazon MGM Studios, which has begun the casting process for the next installment. Other actors, such as Henry Cavill and Cillian Murphy, have been suggested as possible successors to the role.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.