# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/61 "2014-09-14T20:45:53Z")
Diggs is from Newark. How good’s his accent? At least with a British actor you needn’t worry about that part. ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/62 "2014-10-02T14:25:57Z")
Supposedly Chiwetel Ejiofor is in the running to be the next Bond villain… > **[Chiwetel Ejiofor Eyed for James Bond Villain](https://variety.com/2014/film/news/chiwetel-ejiofor-james-bond-1201139769/)** > > After scoring big with Javier Bardem as its last Bond villain, MGM and Sony may be targeting another Oscar-nominated actor to play 007’s nemesis in the next James Bond pic. Sources tell Varie… Was the last main villain who was a black actor Yaphet Kotto in Live & Let Die? Grace Jones’s May Day was sorta second tier. The article also says they’re looking for a Scandinavian and a Brit to be Bond girls. I’d throw out Karen Gillan for consideration for getting Bond some ginger snaps. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2018, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/63 "2018-08-21T14:37:57Z")
Bumped. The Idris-as-007 rumors just won’t quit: [https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a22685301/james-bond-producers-idris-elba/](https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a22685301/james-bond-producers-idris-elba/) I’d be cool with his casting. He’s a talented actor who could do a fine job in the role. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/64 "2018-08-22T17:37:14Z")
Idris said last night he [won’t be the next Bond](https://www.nme.com/news/film/idris-elba-denies-bond-role-2369637). Bummer, he would have been a good one. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/65 "2018-08-22T18:11:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Class is more important than race here. James Bond affects a blue blooded background, I’m not sure if this is ever stated outright but British people just assume Bond is from a very privileged private school, politically powerful parents, Oxbridge etc. The problem is there is only so much the British public will buy into the concept of a blue blooded black person. People of Caribbean and African descent are perceived as being primarily working class or middle class- because they are. I’m struggling to see how you would devise a privileged background for an Idris Elba Bond. Then again the whole franchise shouldn’t have managed to adapt to a post cold war world, and it arguably achieved that. As a non-Brit, James Bond’s social class never entered my consciousness. And I am fine with a nonwhite actor for the role. I draw the line at a female Bond, however. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/66 "2018-08-22T21:08:33Z")
Idris Elba would’ve been perfect for Bond 6 or 7 years ago when he was 40. I just can see him doing 007 for 8 years or so. Having said that he would kill it in the role. I just hope that, if he or another black British actor gets it, the first movie doesn’t drone about his skin color. Make it a non-issue and get along with it. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/67 "2018-08-22T21:10:32Z")
Since the thread has been resurrected, I’ll bite. I think Elba could make a fantastic Bond. I’m disappointed he’s not going for it. > [@1224rattusrattus](#): > > Class is more important than race here. I disagree. I don’t think either are important. > [@](#): > > James Bond affects a blue blooded background, Connery did not. > [@](#): > > People of Caribbean and African descent are perceived as being primarily working class or middle class- because they are. Middle class has a very high upper end. And who’s to say that Bond isn’t the great-grandson of an African prince who came to the UK 100 years ago? ---
**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:** [August 22, 2018, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/68 "2018-08-22T22:11:08Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > As a non-Brit, James Bond’s social class never entered my consciousness. > > And I am fine with a nonwhite actor for the role. I draw the line at a female Bond, however. I believe it was Vesper Lynn’s opinion in the first Daniel Craig bond outing that bond clearly did not come from money, that he went to expensive schools on scholarship and got condescended two for it. He did not deny her deductions, and the antipathy he showed two rich people in that film supports her thesis. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/69 "2018-08-22T22:36:31Z")
Idris Elba would have been awesome. I’m sorry to hear that he’s not pursuing it. I rather hope this turns out to be part of the negotiating, frankly. > [@zimaane](#): > > And I am fine with a nonwhite actor for the role. I draw the line at a female Bond, however. Now that you mention it, I think a female Bond would be interesting as well. If 007 is a title, not a person, there’s certainly no reason it couldn’t be a woman. It would liven things up quite a bit. ---
**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:** [August 22, 2018, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/70 "2018-08-22T22:57:53Z")
Elba would be a great Bond, but I’d rather see a South Asian take on the role. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/71 "2018-08-22T23:33:23Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Elba would be a great Bond, but I’d rather see a South Asian take on the role. I said as much in some other Elba for Bond thread. It makes a lot of sense for a British spy - there’s more than double the number of Brits of South Asian descent as African/Caribbean. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2018, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/72 "2018-08-22T23:51:52Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > I said as much in some other Elba for Bond thread. It makes a lot of sense for a British spy - there’s more than double the number of Brits of South Asian descent as African/Caribbean. Then I’ll nominate [Riz Ahmed](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1981893/). He’s got the right mix of suave, charm, and bad-ass. My second choice would have been [Naveen Andrews](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004710/) of _Sense8_ and formerly _Lost_, but he’s almost 50 which might be a little old to start as Bond. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/73 "2018-08-23T00:15:33Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > Then I’ll nominate [Riz Ahmed](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1981893/). He’s got the right mix of suave, charm, and bad-ass. > > My second choice would have been [Naveen Andrews](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004710/) of _Sense8_ and formerly _Lost_, but he’s almost 50 which might be a little old to start as Bond. No idea about your first guy but your second is exactly who I thought of in that previous thread. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/74 "2018-08-23T00:32:14Z")
The actor who’s work I love, that doesn’t seem to get enough run is [Colin Salmon](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0758760/), he’s been good to great in everything I’ve seen him do. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/75 "2018-08-23T00:40:47Z")
> [@G0sp3l](#): > > The actor who’s work I love, that doesn’t seem to get enough run is [Colin Salmon](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0758760/), he’s been good to great in everything I’ve seen him do. Agreed - including playing an MI6 desk officer in _Die Another Day_ and _Tomorrow Never Dies_! ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/76 "2018-08-23T01:08:41Z")
[Sendhi Ramamurthy](http://www.sendhilramamurthy.net/news/)? ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/77 "2018-08-23T02:43:00Z")
No chance they can just update the Shaft character? Does it really have to be 007? ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/78 "2018-08-23T03:09:28Z")
> [@Sloe\_Moe](#): > > No chance they can just update the Shaft character? Does it really have to be 007? Or maybe just update _Little Black Sambo_, amirite? Can’t be mixin’ up races in our movies, can we? ---
**Author:** ![Sloe\_Moe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Sloe\_Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sloe_Moe)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/79 "2018-08-23T03:45:21Z")
Been done way back but the James Bond character is almost as white as a band of vikings (OK to toss in Antonio Banderas since he was initially shown living in his native land.) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2018, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994/80 "2018-08-23T03:54:42Z")
> [@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. There is no particular reason they had to make Daniel Craig into Bond, rather than making Daniel Craig action movies. But they did. Elba is the right age, he’s English, and he has the imposing size and physical presence. He’d be a good choice though he denies he’s doing it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-like-the-idea-of-black-james-bond-idris-elba-anyone/697994.md?page=5)