Idris Elba says playing James Bond not ‘realistic,’ some audiences won’t accept ‘Black male’ in role

Pop Culture NewsIdris Elba says him playing James Bond not ‘realistic,’ some audiences won’t accept ‘Black male’ in roleIn an interview with British GQ, Elba also warned against trying to make the iconic character “woke.”Idris Elba at the Venice International Film Festival in September.Gisela Schober / Getty Images fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 8, 2026, 11:05 AM EDTBy Francie EbertIdris Elba has been at the center of speculation about playing James Bond since Daniel Craig stepped out of the role in 2021.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.But in an interview with British GQ published Monday, the actor himself dismissed the talk as unrealistic, saying certain audiences would never accept a Black man in the iconic role of the British super spy.“It was never legit. It was always just a rumor,” the star of “The Wire” and “Luther” said. “I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing.”“James Bond was written how he was written for a reason. But I was complimented by it,” Elba said.“And also, I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that. Bond is big all over the world,” he said. “And won’t go for a Black male, an African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period.”According to British GQ, the rumor began after the 2008 election, when Barack Obama won, and Daniel Craig said it was about time for a Black Bond.“Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke,” Elba said.“I think you’ve got to be pure to what it is: escapism. Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond,” he added.Although he appears to be ruling himself out for the Bond franchise, Elba is no stranger to action movies. The 53-year-old Golden Globe-winning actor has made multiple appearances in the Marvel movie universe as Heimdall and is currently in “Masters of the Universe” as Man-At-Arms.Auditions for the new James Bond are underway, with t...