Idris Elba As James Bond?

Call him Bond, James Bond?

Though Daniel Craig is about to embark on his third adventure as 007, speculation is already abound as to who will replace him. One name that has been the subject of intrigue is Idris Elba, the English actor best known for his role as intellectually fierce drug king Stringer Bell in HBO's landmark series, "The Wire." That would make him the non-white James Bond -- an idea which Craig himself first suggested after Barack Obama was elected president back in 2008 -- and something Elba endorsed, if mildly, in an interview with the Guardian in 2009.

"Do I think it will happen? No, but I've got what it takes to do it. I can run around, flirt with ladies and drink. Plus I'm English," he told the newspaper.

Two years later, he's still keen on the idea, though he has a few reservations.

"It's a very old rumor. My dad and I were talking about this the other day," Elba told CNN in an interview Wednesday. "I would do it, but I don't want to be called the first black James Bond. Do you understand what I 'm saying? Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."

Elba is certainly building up the resume. He nabbed two Emmy nominations this year, for his guest role in "The Big C," and his lead in the BBC mini-series, "Luther," and has starred in films such as 2009's "Obsessed" and this summer's "Thor." He'll next feature in the upcoming Ridley Scott film, "Prometheus."

 

That would be dope, I hope they give it some serious consideration.

 

I saw this article somewhere else. It's an old rumor and he even says he was never approached. Maybe people are trying to get a groundswell going for him.


The article I read:



It's been rumoured for a while now that Idris Elba is set to become the next James Bond.
And the hunky British actor and sometime-singer will excite millions of female fans out there after admitting he would 'definitely consider' the role.
He said the it was 'a very old rumour' that he had been asked to play special agent 007.But producers might come running when they hear how committed he is to his work.
The 39-year-old, who hails from Hackney, in North London, revealed he'd pull a stunt worthy of the role.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2043325/Idris-Elba-I-dont-want-Black-James-Bond.html

 

This shouldn't come as a surprise, there was a black British actor by the name of Colin Salmon who portrayed as James Bond in a British TV series. So this wouldn't be the first of the franchise. Below is a picture of Salmon.

​

However, as a movie franchise...this will be the first. But now, MGM is riddle with financial disarray and the last James Bond offering came in the form of a video game (Blood Stone) and that offered little critical appeal (average score in the 60 percentile).

The possibility is there. After all, Ian Fleming was a liberal crusader, and while James Bond is British, they never really specified his ethnicity, therefore, it wouldn't be far fetched to see that. Hell, even Daniel Craig supported the idea.

 

I heard about it on a interview on NPR's Morning Edition last Wednesday. Very interesting.

 

He's gorgeous!

I could also so see Idris in it. He'd also get a whole new base of (Black) female fans into the character that may not have been into the franchise otherwise. A win all around, I think.

Oh on seconds thoughts now, I'm thinking while women probably would love the idea, male fans may balk.

 

I don't see why. It's been long speculated that James Bond maybe a code name passed down to agent to agent like 007. So anyone could be Bond when you think about it.

 

What kind of funny is how my mom always said that we already have a Black version of James Bond. He's called....

YA DAMN RIGHT!​

 

Really?

I could not fathom such a thing!

 

I agree whole-heartedly!! Too damn sexy, to boot! :smt060

Maybe so, but we're talking a 50-ish year-old franchise here that had been dominated by a White Male lead. Idris isn't Denzel (as far as popularity/respect goes). I hope I'm wrong.

LOL. I guess I wasn't (wrong).

 

Shaft is such a caricature of black stereotypes, it's sad. His "name" says it all.

 

And another note...my dad actually resembles John Shaft to the tee back in his younger years. I shit you not!

And back on topic, I honestly don't know how well-received it'll be in the U.S. to be honest should Idris Elba or any black actor take the 007 role. I DO know that the white supremacist organization Council for Conservative Citizens would boycott the franchise like they did with Thor where Elba played the role of Heimdall.

As for the rest of the public, it's all dependent on die-hard fans (America mainly since Europe would be more considerate of that transition). But you would be correct that it would attract a more diverse audience, especially if they market the product properly.

 

You have a point, LA. I never really thought of that.

 

To be fair, it was appropriate for that period in time. I don't think it was blaxploitation nor was considered as such.

 

I disagree.

Review the history of black male caricatures in the Unites States.

 

I have and recognize them as such. Shaft...MAYBE if you look at it by today's standards in terms of movies. Back then though...you can say all groups of people are stereotyped in such a way based on certain roles.

 

However you feel about it, I'm not entertained by the so-called comedic relief they were aiming for.

I don't appreciate it.

I have a sense of humor, and maybe a few jokes in the movie were funny, but I don't support that kind of nonsense.

 

Was it as bad as Stepin' Fetchit or Anus & Andy?

 

Shaft is the man, and Sam Jackson portrayal was real good btw.

 

I seriously thought he simply sucked in that movie. Maybe it's the script and/or the combination of Sam Jackson portraying the role that simply made him off.