# I like the idea of Black James Bond. Idris Elba, anyone? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies, actor-characters\ **Created:** [September 9, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994 "2014-09-09T18:55:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/21 "2014-09-10T03:22:02Z")
I submit [Jimmy Akingbola](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1250510/) for consideration. I haven’t seen him on-screen, so I can’t judge his screen presence, but I’ve enjoyed his voice work as [Richard Sonnac](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OohLVBbPbqw) in _The Secret World_ MMO. Anyone else have an opinion on his potential for the role? ---
**Author:** ![Grumman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/22 "2014-09-10T04:48:55Z")
This is a stupid idea. If you want Idris Elba as a super-spy, just make that movie. There’s no reason why you need to make him James Bond in particular. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/23 "2014-09-10T04:56:40Z")
I think Idris Elba would be a great choice as The Doctor whenever the role opens up again, so I’d hate for him to not be available because he was already snapped up by another franchise role. You should pick somebody else to be Bond. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/24 "2014-09-10T05:06:32Z")
> [@Grumman](#): > > This is a stupid idea. If you want Idris Elba as a super-spy, just make that movie. There’s no reason why you need to make him James Bond in particular. I agree. The whole James Bond franchise is completely played out. Idris Elba was terrific in _Luther_, but it was all him. The writing and everything else wasn’t all that great. Heck, I wish they’d make a _Luther_ film, with new writers and a major director. ---
**Author:** ![Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e36b37/32.png) [@Airman\_Doors\_USAF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airman_Doors_USAF)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/25 "2014-09-10T05:12:12Z")
> [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > End the series. It’s not interesting anymore. I very much disagree. The movies with Daniel Craig have reinvigorated the series. Also, the box office receipts belie the idea that the series is no longer interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Sodalite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@Sodalite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sodalite)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/26 "2014-09-10T07:42:34Z")
> [@Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](#): > > Of course not. It’s idiotic. > [@Jim\_s\_Son](#): > > End the series. It’s not interesting anymore. > [@Grumman](#): > > This is a stupid idea. If you want Idris Elba as a super-spy, just make that movie. There’s no reason why you need to make him James Bond in particular. Geeze, threadshit much? We’re just having fun fantasizing. > [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Terrence Howard has those killer eyes. > > He could pull it off, I think. Speaking of fantasizing and gorgeous eyes, I nominate [Michael Ealy.](https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1280&bih=680&q=almost+human&oq=almost&gs_l=img.1.1.0l10.1191.2174.0.4899.6.5.0.1.1.0.89.291.5.5.0....0...1ac.1.53.img..0.6.292.fak8_MCWdzw#hl=en&tbm=isch&q=michael+ealy&imgdii=_) ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/27 "2014-09-10T10:08:46Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Terrence Howard has those killer eyes. > > He could pull it off, I think. > [@Zeldar](#): > > I would vote for Don Cheadle. I say that the one movie should be with Terrence Howard and then the following movies could star Don Cheadle. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/28 "2014-09-10T10:33:39Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > Chiwetel Ejiofor could do it. It wouldn’t be _that_ far off The Operative from Serenity. See, that read as “sociopath” to me, but I get the point. Take out the sociopath and it might work. Also, I vote for Idris Elba as well. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/29 "2014-09-10T14:02:51Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > See, that read as “sociopath” to me, but I get the point. Take out the sociopath and it might work. > > Also, I vote for Idris Elba as well. Well, not even necessarily take it all the way out. Though I don’t know that he’d have to be QUITE as tortured as Timothy Dalton’s Bond was. There’s also, as referenced some above, just the option of doing something like XXX with Vin Diesel or Jason Bourne with Matt Damon (and to a lesser extent whashisname)… characters that are basically Schmames Schmond. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/30 "2014-09-10T14:41:57Z")
> [@johnspartan](#): > > Chiwetel Ejiofor could do it. It wouldn’t be _that_ far off The Operative from Serenity. This was my exact thought, for the exact same reason. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/31 "2014-09-10T14:42:58Z")
> [@](#): > > This is a stupid idea. If you want Idris Elba as a super-spy, just make that movie. There’s no reason why you need to make him James Bond in particular. Did the same objection apply to Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, Roger Moore, George Lazenby, or David Niven? Why not? ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/32 "2014-09-10T16:33:22Z")
Bit baffled at the folks in this thread using the fact that it’d rile racists as a mark against it. Free advertising, and hey, fuck 'em. Since when do we let racists make these decisions for us? Elba’d be delightful as Bond, I think. Chiwetel Ejiofor could do it as well, based on the Serenity comparison, though I’ve not seen him lately. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/33 "2014-09-10T18:30:57Z")
I love the idea. Idris is awesome. And British. And would add a new, interesting element to the Bond legend. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/34 "2014-09-10T19:36:18Z")
I have no problem with a black James Bond. That’s like asking “Would you have a problem with a black spy”? However an American James Bond would be an abomination. ---
**Author:** ![Grestarian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grestarian/32/3227_2.png) [@Grestarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grestarian)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/35 "2014-09-10T20:33:29Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > I have no problem with a black James Bond. That’s like asking “Would you have a problem with a black spy”? > > However an American James Bond would be an abomination. I was going to suggest Ejiofor around noon yesterday, but then had to deal with work so everybody else beat me to it (gang-ninja’d!). I was also going to complain that there was once talk of a Jinx spin-off – American, black, and female international spy. Whatever happened to that? I heard Halle Berry had even filmed some of the scenes but now it’s been shelved indefinitely? I would have loved that franchise! –G! ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/36 "2014-09-10T21:24:29Z")
> [@Eugene\_of\_Sandwich](#): > > Of course not. It’s idiotic. Why is it idiotic? ---
**Author:** ![AtomicDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@AtomicDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AtomicDog)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/37 "2014-09-10T21:53:35Z")
Craig Charles, just to see heads explode. If not Bond, then the next Doctor. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2014, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/38 "2014-09-11T01:58:42Z")
Hell, if they put naked Naomi Harris in the film, I’d tolerate [Johnny Brown](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0113900/?ref_=nv_sr_1) as Bond. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2014, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/39 "2014-09-11T11:05:17Z")
The racists came out of the woodwork because some tertiary character in the Hunger Games was black in the movie, so you can bet an iconic franchise character would create a shitstorm. I’m not a big fan of race or gender changes solely to be provocative and create press. It can seem forced and cheap. Thor is female? Alright, I’m not even interested in the explanation especially since comics are retcon city. [/QUOTE] The really stupid thing about this outcry (from mostly teen-aged girls, from what I could tell) was that the movie was ruined, _ruined_ by Rue being played by a black girl when, in the book, she’s a black girl. On topic: The first person I thought of was Chiwetel Ejiofor and then I wondered if Morris Chestnut is too old. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2014, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/40 "2014-09-11T17:12:33Z")
> [@AtomicDog](#): > > Craig Charles, just to see heads explode… I’m not sure I’d be comfortable with Craig Charles doing the standard pushy Bond seduction… Whoever plays him, the black Bond should firstly star in a remake of ‘Live and Let Die’, to raise a Moore-like eyebrow at the racial stereotyping. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994.md?page=3)