THE WORLD IS NOT READY FOR BLACK JAMES BOND – IDRIS ELBA
Idris Elba believes the world isn’t ready for the first black James Bond. The London-born actor has been heavily linked to the coveted role — currently played by Daniel Craig — but although he is interested in playing 007, he doesn’t think cinema goers around the world want to see a black man play the character.
Speaking on UK station BBC Radio 2, he said: “I think in England, we have reached that stage [of having a black James Bond] because culturally, we’re sort of a lot more diverse, but the rest of the world is not like that, and I think there is a real sort of stigma. It’s like, ‘Oh, he’s black, can he do it because he’s black?’“
Idris, 45, also rejected claims that people would be more accommodating to the change because of recent historical moments such as Barack Obama becoming America’s first black president.
He explained: “Obama can be president because he’s a very smart man, and I’m sure he had the same feelings, like, ‘Well I’m not the first black president, I’m Obama. I’m the first Obama. ‘So, for me, you know, I don’t like to make a big deal of it. The point is that it’s a great rumour. If it was to ever happen, I think it would be the will of a nation.”
Idris is adamant he has not had any official conversation about taking on the role after Craig, 50, makes his final appearance in Bond 25, but he would definitely consider it if he did get an offer.