Idris Elba says audiences won't 'go for a Black male' as James Bond
Idris Elba says audiences won't 'go for a Black male' as James Bond
Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYMon, June 8, 2026 at 2:14 PM UTC
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Could the next James Bond be a Black man? Idris Elba isn't so sure.
In a British GQ profile published June 8, the "Masters of the Universe" star, who was once rumored to be in the running to play 007, suggested it's not realistic that a Black actor will be cast in the iconic role.
"I've always felt that it's not a realistic thing," he said. "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."
Elba reiterated that despite years of speculation and fan-castings, him as a potential Bond was "never legit" and always simply a rumor. He also argued there shouldn't be an effort to modernize the famously womanizing character too much with the upcoming film.
Idris Elba says he 'honestly' wasn't a contender to play James Bond
"Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let's not try and make it woke," he said. "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."
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Idris Elba attends the "A House Of Dynamite" red carpet during the New York Film Festival on Sept. 28, 2025, in New York City.
The "Hijack" star's comments come after Amazon MGM Studios confirmed in May that "the search for the next James Bond is underway." Denis Villeneuve has been tapped as the director of the next Bond film, but no star has been cast. Daniel Craig, the most recent Bond, retired from the role with 2021's "No Time to Die."
Search for the next James Bond is underway with auditions
In 2020, longtime Bond series producer Barbara Broccoli told Variety that going forward, the character must remain male, but he "can be of any color," though Amazon has since taken control of the franchise following a 2025 agreement with Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
Prior to Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, George Lazenby and Sean Connery also played the role of the famed super spy.
Similar to Elba, "Star Wars" actor John Boyega suggested in 2022 that he won't play Bond because he is Black. "When you're Black, I don't know how that goes," he said on the "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, adding that it would be "very surprising" to him if the next Bond is a Black man.
A release date for the next Bond movie hasn't been set, although it's expected to still be a few years away. For now, Villeneuve is focused on finishing up his sci-fi sequel "Dune: Part Three," which hits theaters in December.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Idris Elba says a Black James Bond isn't realistic
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