Diggs is from Newark. How good’s his accent?
At least with a British actor you needn’t worry about that part.
Supposedly Chiwetel Ejiofor is in the running to be the next Bond villain…
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.
Bumped.
The Idris-as-007 rumors just won’t quit: 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.
Idris said last night he won’t be the next Bond. Bummer, he would have been a good one.
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.
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.
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.
I disagree. I don’t think either are important.
Connery did not.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Then I’ll nominate Riz Ahmed. He’s got the right mix of suave, charm, and bad-ass.
My second choice would have been Naveen Andrews 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.
The actor who’s work I love, that doesn’t seem to get enough run is Colin Salmon, 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!
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?
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.)
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.