‘Head of State’: John Cena and Idris Elba co-star in action comedy
The British Prime Minister (Idris Elba) and the US President (John Cena) put aside their differences to save the day in “Head of State.”
Could the next James Bond be black? Idris Elba isn’t so sure.
The Masters of the Universe star, who was once rumored to be in the running for the role of 007, suggested in a June 8 profile in British GQ that it was unrealistic for a black actor to be cast in the iconic role.
“I always felt like that wasn’t realistic,” he said. “James Bond was written the way it was written for a reason. But I’ve been praised for it. And realistically, I think some markets don’t like it. Bond is popular all over the world. And (audiences) don’t (all) like a black man or an African man playing Bond. It’s not a preference of their culture. It’s a period.”
Elba reiterated that despite years of speculation and fan casting, he was “never legitimate” as a Bond candidate and was always just a rumor. He also argued that future films shouldn’t modernize the famously womanizing character too much.
“Bond is unrealistic, so hinting at reality is good, but let’s not try to wake it up,” he said. “I think you need to be pure about escapism. Don’t try to answer to public tastes. Just be Bond.”
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 to direct the next Bond movie, but no cast has been decided. Daniel Craig, who most recently played Bond, retired from the role after 2021’s No Time to Die.
In 2020, long-time Bond producer Barbara Broccoli told Variety that the character must remain male, but that “it doesn’t matter what color his skin is.” However, Amazon then took control of the series under a 2025 deal with Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson.
Before Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, and Sean Connery also played the famous super spy.
Like Elba, Star Wars actor John Boyega has indicated that he will not play Bond in 2022 because he is black. “I don’t know what’s going to happen when you’re black,” he said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, adding that it would be “very surprising” if the next Bond were black.
No release date has been set for the next Bond movie yet, but it is expected to be several years away. For now, Villeneuve is focused on finishing his sci-fi sequel, Dune: Part 3, which will be released in theaters in December.
