Idris Elba on Chance of Him Playing Bond: 'It's Gone'
Idris Elba claims that the never-ending rumors of him playing James Bond are precisely what killed his chances. Speaking to an audience at the British Film Institute, Elba said he's tired of the speculation. "Honestly, it’s a rumor that’s really starting to eat itself," the Luther star said. "If there was ever any chance of me getting Bond, it’s gone."
Adding that talks with producers of the Bond franchise "never happened," Elba claims to know exactly who started the gossip. "Daniel Craig actually set the rumor off. About four years ago he said Idris Elba would be a great Bond and then it started to creep," he said. "I blame Daniel."
Meanwhile, former Bond villain Yaphet Kotto is equally tired of the campaign to make Elba the next Bond, but for a very different reason. In an interview with Big Issue, Kotto expressed his belief that 007 should be portrayed by a white actor. "Political correctness be damned, we have to stay with what is literally correct," he said, adding, "He was established as a white character, played by white actors. I don't think it's right for Black actors or writers to do roles that whites have made historically white roles."
Ironically, Kotto was the first Black villain in the James Bond franchise, playing Dr. Kananga in the 1973 film Live or Let Die.
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(Photo: Chelsea Lauren/Getty Images for PSFF)
