Idris Elba Is ‘Too Street’ To Play 007, Says James Bond Author

[Ill Lou Malnati]

and to think a couple of years ago people were complimenting Daniel Craig for making Bond more "Gritty"(exact word used then).

Exactly, and I remember "rugged" being thrown around too. They basically wanted to the opposite of the suave, slicked back Pierce Brosnan/Roger Moore-type. Elba fits into the Daniel Craig style of Bond going by his Luther days, but I think he could play it either way.

 

[R=G]

Expected

 

[King P]

And of course, he's already retracting...

I’m really sorry my comments about Idris Elba have caused offence,” he wrote. “That wasn’t my intention. I was asked in my interview if Idris Elba would make a good James Bond. In the article I expressed the opinion that to my mind Adrian Lester would be a better choice but I’m a writer not a casting director so what do I know? Clumsily, I chose the word ‘street’ as Elba’s gritty portrayal of DCI John Luther was in my mind but I admit it was a poor choice of word. I am mortified to have caused offence.”

 

[Bigbigguy]

I don't even want a black bond but that was a silly response

 

[Shadow]

This must have been mistranslated. What the guy actually said was "Idris Elba is a black man so no ."

 

[Knicksman20]

do we have any "smooth" black actors coming up? like who is the next denzel/idris/dennis haysbert/blair underwood type dude? would love to see a black bond, but yea, the timing is bad for idris and i don't know who's waiting in the wings...do people like that black guy from beyond the lights/great debaters? (never seen either movie)

Chiwetel Ejiofor who's a very good actor from Inside Man & 10 Years A Slave

 

[Gains]

so the TFR wants Idris to go from Mandela to a British Imperialist agent

 

[Bigbigguy]

I lol'd at this

 

[obarth]

Why should I give a solitary fukk what Anthony Horowitz has to say? Who the fukk is he? Idris is tops on the majority of people's lists as far as who they want to be the next Bond. Is it gonna happen? Who knows. But I'm not about to get up in arms cause some random dude is expressing his racism through code

 

[Birnin Zana]

The same dude who played Nelson Mandela is apparently "too street" to be a secret agent.

 

[George's Dilemma]

Personally, I don't want to see a Black Bond myself. I'm not a big fan of gender swapping and race swapping in cartoons, movies, comic books, etc..It's one thing with a character like Green Lantern as anybody can bear the ring(s). It's another thing entirely if an established character like Storm were to be portrayed by a white woman. The Human Torch in the most recent F4 is an example of handling a race swap poorly. I thought Sue Storm being portrayed by Jessica Alba was awful too. Didn't bother watching Thor, but it's a bit hilarious to see a Norse based universe with a Black god. Can't make that sh!t up. Oh, but they did. On another note, I could really give a fukk what white people think, however, I tend to agree that swapping genders or race with established characters is a bit of a heavy handed, lazy, and ultimately proves to be a sloppy approach to addressing diversity in entertainment media. I think Michelle Rodriguez had a point when she suggested we do our own sh!t when it comes to these kind of films.

Granted, an argument can be made that it's all fictional material anyway, so who cares?!?!? Still, even with fictional material, there has to be some semblance of credibility with the character. That said, I'd rather see a good Black actor play a character within the Bond universe, but not play James Bond himself. I'd love to see Idris Elba or another Black actor play an agent connected to Bond on a mission in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, etc..

 

[Ribbs]

Just say you want your James Bond to stay white and move on.

Tired of this.

 

[nieman]

Personally, I don't want to see a Black Bond myself. I'm not a big fan of gender swapping and race swapping in cartoons, movies, comic books, etc..It's one thing with a character like Green Lantern as anybody can bear the ring(s). It's another thing entirely if an established character like Storm were to be portrayed by a white woman. The Human Torch in the most recent F4 is an example of handling a race swap poorly. I thought Sue Storm being portrayed by Jessica Alba was awful too. Didn't bother watching Thor, but it's a bit hilarious to see a Norse based universe with a Black god. Can't make that sh!t up. Oh, but they did. On another note, I could really give a fukk what white people think, however, I tend to agree that swapping genders or race with established characters is a bit of a heavy handed, lazy, and ultimately proves to be a sloppy approach to addressing diversity in entertainment media. I think Michelle Rodriguez had a point when she suggested we do our own sh!t when it comes to these kind of films.

Granted, an argument can be made that it's all fictional material anyway, so who cares?!?!? Still, even with fictional material, there has to be some semblance of credibility with the character. That said, I'd rather see a good Black actor play a character within the Bond universe, but not play James Bond himself. I'd love to see Idris Elba or another Black actor play an agent connected to Bond on a mission in Africa, South America, the Caribbean, etc..

I agree with you and stated so in other threads. You can easily make a black spy type and forge whatever path you'd like. They did James Bond Jr with If Looks Could Kill (flopped in theaters though) and kid Bond with Agent Cody Banks, so do a black spy flick.

 

[Birnin Zana]

I much rather have Idris play a different character than bond altogether. Or be the lead role in which the secret agent is black.

The "bond should be black" shyt is getting lame, plus will prolly won't happen soon anyway.

 

[Methodical]

Idiot....not surprising......but the ladies love him...they lost $$$