Idris Elba says James Bond shouldn't be "woke"

Loading Twitter/X Embed...
If tweet fails to load, click here.

quote:

---

Idris Elba is putting those James Bond rumors to bed.

The 53-year-old acclaimed actor — who tends to play heroic characters and currently stars in “Masters of the Universe” alongside Nicholas Galitzine — has been tipped to take over the 007 role since before Daniel Craig’s departure in 2021. But in a new cover interview with British GQ, Elba says the rumors were “never legit.”

“I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing,” he told British GQ. “James Bond was written how he was written for a reason. But I was complimented by it. And also, I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that. Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] won’t [all] go for a Black male, an African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period.”

But he also said he doesn’t necessarily think that Bond should change. “Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke,” Elba continued. “I think you’ve got to be pure to what it is: escapism. Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond.”

---