'I'm not Bond' — actor shrugs off casting rumors, warns Black Bond would face audience resistance

British actor Idris Elba has weighed in on years of speculation linking him to the James Bond role, saying the franchise should not try to be "woke" and that some audiences would not accept a Black man playing the iconic spy.

In an interview with GQ magazine published June 8, Elba said "not every audience is going to like a Black man, an African man, being Bond," adding, "In their culture, that's not something they're going to like." The BBC, The Guardian and other outlets reported his remarks Tuesday.

Speculation over who would succeed Daniel Craig has run for years since Craig played Bond for the last time in "No Time to Die" (2021).

Some have argued the role should go to a non-white actor or a woman.

Elba has shrugged off Bond casting rumors surrounding him for years, saying they were "not true — just rumors."

He also questioned whether the Bond character needed to change.

"Bond is so fantastical that adding some realism is fine, but you shouldn't try to be woke," he said. "Bond should stay true to what it is — escapism."

"Don't try to fit the world's taste," he added. "Just be Bond."

Amazon MGM Studios last year formed a joint venture with Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli and took over production rights to the James Bond franchise. Denis Villeneuve, director of "Dune," has been tapped to helm the next installment, with Steven Knight, writer of "Peaky Blinders," handling the screenplay. Casting director Nina Gold has also been brought on board.

Amid years of speculation over who will take on the role, the search for the next 007 officially got underway last month. Auditions have been held in recent weeks, according to Variety.

Names in the running for the Bond role include Callum Turner — who recently married Dua Lipa — along with Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Henry Cavill, Cillian Murphy and Jacob Elordi.

007 시리즈 제작자 "제임스 본드 캐릭터 완전히 재창조"

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