For months, Idris Elba has been attached to the 007 franchise as a possible replacement for Daniel Craig. And if he did manage to snag the role, as you can see, he would become the first Black James Bond. But while the actor has expressed interest in playing the fictional British secret agent, he’s also made it clear during an interview with Morning Edition that he refuses to live with the racial title:
“It’s a rumor. I just don’t want to be the black James Bond. Sean Connery wasn’t the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn’t the blue-eyed James Bond, so if I played him, I don’t want to be called the black James Bond.”
However, Elba changed his tone when asked if he’d jumped at the opportunity:
“I’d not only get in the cab, but I’d take the taxi driver out of the car, hostage. The taxi, jump out while it was moving, jump onto a pedal bike that was just past the door as I got on it, and then get onto a plane — on the wing — land on top of Sony Studios, slide through the air conditioning, and land in the office.”
Before we envision him getting into character and decked out in a high-tech Armani tux, we’ll have to wait for the recent bond, Craig, to finish his tour on the untitled Bond 23 film, which is due Oct. 26, 2012.
