‘That’s not what they like’
India McTaggart
Sir Idris Elba has called on those in charge of the new James Bond not to “wake up” the spy.
The Golden Globe-winning actor, who will replace Daniel Craig, said 007 should remain “unreal” and audiences would not welcome a black actor.
One interview with GQ On who could take on the role, Elba said: “Bond is very unrealistic, so some sense of reality is good, but let’s not try to evoke it.”
“I think you have to be pure about what it is: escapism. Don’t try to cater to the world’s taste. Just be Bond.”
He also addressed rumors that the actor could replace Craig after his sweet 15-year spy stint ended with the movie. No Time to Die In 2021.
“I always felt like this wasn’t realistic,” said Elba, adding: “There’s a reason why James Bond was written this way. But this flattered me.
“Also, realistically, I think some markets aren’t keen on it. Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] habit [all] Choose a black man or an African man playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period.”
He made the comments less than a month after Amazon MGM Studios confirmed that casting for the new 007 had begun.
After years of speculation about who might take on the mantle, the studio said: “While we do not plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we are excited to share more news with 007 fans when the time comes.”
The studio enlisted the help of British casting master Nina Gold, who was nominated for an Oscar for her work on the film. hamnet. He is also known for his work game of Thrones, Crown And Jackal Day.
Earlier, Elba admitted that racist backlash over the possibility of him being chosen as Ian Fleming’s spy “made the whole thing disgusting and repulsive”.
he said SmartLess A podcast published in 2023 added that for some, it “became about race and bullshit” and that he was “bearing the brunt of it.”
The actor has recently turned his attention to tackling London’s knife crime problem for his charitable work supporting young people, for whom he was knighted by the King at Windsor Castle earlier this month.
In his interview, Elba described how he became involved in the anti-knife campaign: “It was a hopeless situation, listening to the reports every day.”
“If I was a young person it was almost like, ‘Bruh, I could carry a knife and no one would know. I could stab someone and no one would know.’ Because the situation seemed so hopeless.”
“I thought to myself: ‘Well, I can stand on a soapbox. Graham Norton ‘I talk about stuff all day long, I wear a t-shirt and everyone wants to buy it, whatever it is, and I need to say something’.
“I have children. If something happened to my children, I would be devastated. So it was like that. It wasn’t ‘I want to campaign’. It was ‘Won’t anyone say anything?'”
Build skills and confidence
In May, Elba attended a star-studded celebration at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the King’s Trust.
Her Majesty’s trust works with the Elba Hope Foundation, a charity set up by Elba and his wife, Sabrina Elba, to provide free courses designed to inspire young people in Britain to develop the skills and confidence to work in the creative industries.
Recently there has been talk of being called a “hero” GQ edition, Elba said: “I’m just an actor with all these ambitions. I struggle with it a little bit. Accepting responsibility means, ‘Yes! I’m an honest hero! I’m a role model!’ I’m not. I am deeply flawed.”
To miss Star added: “It’s hard to maintain that line, that turning point: you’re either a hero or you’re not – which is it? And I sit in the middle. I never aspired to be a knight. Or to be some kind of folk hero; that’s not what I’m after.”
The British Hero Problem GQ is out now.
Telegraph, London
