re: James Bond Author Says Idris Elba is 'Too Street' to Play James Bond

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Bond is one of those roles, especially with Modern Day settings, where race doesn't really matter

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I strongly disagree. Bond is white and always has been. Ian Fleming had a drawing of his vision of Bond, and guess what? He was white. This is one of those roles where race is important

I'm kind of digging the Tom Hiddleston mentions. Younger actor that could stay with the role for a long time.

And I say again: I love Idris Elba. He's a fantastic actor. You want to bring him into the world of Bond? Then cast him as 005 in the next movie and then spin it off. That way he can make the role into whatever he wants.

And I really can't stand the argument some of you made in this thread. James Bond is a white guy and has been so for 50 years. Disagreeing with the choice to change the race of the role for no reason other than 'just cause' does not make someone racist. I said earlier making Johnny Storm a black guy was stupid. Sue is still white, in the comics they are both white, so changing the race of one but not both is pandering. Nothing else.

I also completely disagree that Idris Elba is the only guy for the role. For one thing he's too old and the series really needs to get an actor they can build off of. I mean, Connery and Moore were Bond for 7 movies each. Brosnan probably would have been Bond for at least 6 had they gotten him when they wanted him, and there wouldn't have been the lull between License to Kill and Goldeneye. Craig was in 4, and it's taken a long time to get those 4.

So like Freaux said, if there's a story you want to tell with Idris Elba in the role, then fine. But I do not believe for one min that this has anything to do with that. It's stunt casting.

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I strongly disagree. Bond is white and always has been. Ian Fleming had a drawing of his vision of Bond, and guess what? He was white. This is one of those roles where race is important


I agree with you if the film is set between 1950 and 1970. But a modern day Bond in no way requires a specific color. He should be a Brit/Welsh/Scottish/Irish of some kind (and have a good British accent)), and that's about it when it comes to race/nationality.

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Then they should have made that decision and cast him in Casino Royale. Then you establish a new M, and a sort of new origin setup for the character. There's no transition.

James Bond by definition requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. But having Dainel Craig walk off the screen in Spectre and then having Idris Elba on screen in the next one referring to events that happened in Craig's Bond movies is just silly.

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Then they should have made that decision and cast him in Casino Royale. Then you establish a new M, and a sort of new origin setup for the character. There's no transition.

James Bond by definition requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief. But having Dainel Craig walk off the screen in Spectre and then having Idris Elba on screen in the next one referring to events that happened in Craig's Bond movies is just silly.

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Ohhh. Are we talking about casting Elba and keeping the current Craig storyline? Yeah that makes no sense. They'd have to reboot.

I agree with you here.

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I'm a casual moviegoer who sees Bond movies but without regard for the source material. I'm probably like 90% of the folks who go see Bond movies. And frankly, a black Bond would be weird. I'd still see it, and it might be good, but the first reaction would be that it's odd. Is there a reason Bond can't be black? Not really, except he's always been a British (Scot, whatever) spy, And that conjures up an image of debonair white guy with an accent.

The corollary is, is there a reason Bond SHOULD be black? Not really, except just to do it. It would seem pandering and it would seem an exercise in affirmative action.

I say as long as Elba (or whoever) is a capable actor who really fits the mold of James Bond then who cares what race the actor is. I doubt most young people who see future James Bond movies even know they were based off of books. As long as he's still a suave spy and a ladies' man, who cares what he looks like?

I thought the whole point of a spy was to NOT stand out. You fricking people act like if a 6' 4" black guy walked into a room he wouldn't stand out, plus he will always be stringer bell to me.. I think we should use Cheadle. He can do a British accident. Plus he's a great actor.

Wrong. Arrogant short white dudes are all over and are always talking shite so that don't make him stand out.

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Btw none of these people are starting the discussion with "HEY WHY DONT WE MAKE BOND A BLACK GUY?!" It starts off with "hey that idris guy is one of my favorite actors. He'd fit perfectly as Bond."

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In this thread, maybe. I mean, it's an anonymous message board, so I guess I have to take everyone at face value that they're color blind.

If you think that the Hollywood insiders pushing the idea have the same POV, I think you're being naive.