Ever since Daniel Craig confirmed that he is done playing 007 in the long-running James Bond franchise, there has been widespread speculation as to who the next Bond would be. Over the years, several names have come up, but perhaps no one has been linked to the role more consistently than Idris Elba.The London-born actor has steadily risen to prominence over the years, with popular roles such as Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Bloodsport in The Suicide Squad, and the antagonist Brixton in Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw. Not to mention, he’s also established himself on television, with The Office and the Emmy-nominated titular role in Luther. And while it almost seems like Elba’s casting as the new 007 is practically a done deal, recent reports have also suggested that he may be reluctant to take on the role in the first place.
A Tweet From Idris Elba Got Fans Thinking He Could Be The Next James Bond
Long before Craig started filming his final Bond film, rumors were already persistent about who his replacement would be. And while franchise producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson have remained mum on the matter, it hasn’t stopped everyone else from commenting.
Among the stars that fans suggested was Elba and while no one even knew if Elba had a genuine interest in the role, the actor did take to Twitter with a cheeky post that read, “my name’s Elba, Idris Elba.”
And while that was all fans needed to hear to keep the rumor mill going, Elba later took to Twitter again with another cryptic post. This time, it was a photo of the rap group Public Enemy.
He followed it up with a message that referenced one of their songs, “Don’t Believe The Hype.”
Today, Idris Elba Doesn’t Think ‘Playing Bond Will Satisfy Some Of My Personal Goals’
Fans may think that Elba teased about taking on the role of 007 years ago but more recently, the actor made it clear that he’s not interested in the role despite the growing fan support for him to be the next face of the franchise.
“It is not a goal for my career,” the actor explained. “I don’t think that, you know, playing Bond will satisfy some of my personal goals.”
During a recent interview, Elba also clarified his thoughts on playing Bond once more, remarking, “When I look in the mirror, I don’t see James Bond.”
Bond Producers Understand Idris Elba’s Reluctance: ‘Not Everybody Wants To Do That’
James Bond may be an iconic character but both Broccoli and Wilson understand that it still doesn’t appeal to everyone. For one thing, it’s quite a commitment.
“The thing is, it’s going to be a couple of years off,” Broccoli explained. “And when we cast Bond, it’s a 10-, 12-year commitment. So he’s probably thinking, ‘Do I really want that thing? Not everybody wants to do that.”
Broccoli even revealed that it was “hard enough” to secure Craig in the past. “With [Craig], when we had the conversation at this very table about, you know, [whether he was] going to do it, he said, ‘Well, I’m going to do it. I really want to be a part of it, the whole thing.’ And he lived to regret that,” she later jokingly added.
But on a more serious note, Broccoli made it clear that playing Bond for any actor will always be a “big commitment.”
“It’s not just showing up a for a couple of months of filming.” This may be why someone as established as Elba may ultimately become reluctant to play one of Hollywood’s most famous spies.
That said, the producers are clearly fond of Elba with Wilson remarking, “He’s great” and Broccoli adding, “We love Idris.” Whether they’ll get to work with him at some point, however, is a whole other matter.
With those rumors cleared up, Broccoli and Wilson are just about ready to look for the next 007. The process, however, is a lot more complex than fans might think.
“That’s why, when people go, ‘Oh, who are you going to get?’ it’s not just about casting an actor for a film,” Broccoli explained.
“It’s about a reinvention, and ‘Where are we taking it? What do we want to do with the character?’ And then, once we figure that out, who’s the right person for that particular reinvention?”
And so, for now, Broccoli has also clarified that “nobody’s in the running.” Moreover, the next film isn’t due to come out anytime soon. “I’d say that filming is at least two years away,” she added.
As for Elba, he’s got several projects in the works, including the crime drama Luther, which is inspired by the series he became known for. It also seems more likely for the actor to return to the MCU than play Bond at this point.
