Idris Elba confirms he won’t be the next James Bond, and I’m “shocked, not agitated”

“OKAY. Well. It is very good. OKAY.“

I guess it’s time we accepted the sad, hard truth that Idris Elba is going not to be the next James Bond, at least not right away.

According to Rolling Stone, the Luther The actor was asked whether or not he would take on the role of the next James Bond at the world premiere of his upcoming and highly anticipated Netflix film. The more they fall at the London Film Festival. Daniel Craig, who currently stars in the coveted role, will hang up his costume after his fifth and final time as a dashing spy in No time to die, in theaters Friday.

“No, I’m not going to be James Bond,” confirmed Elba. After being pressed to find out whether or not he would be interested in taking on the role later, he added, “Who wouldn’t? How amazing would it be to have a Black James Bond? It is a sign of the times when we can stop talking about black and white and color. OK, so are you saying there is hope, Idris? Is there a chance ??

* Deep, heavy and British spiritual sigh * (Wait, is that even a thing?)

To be honest, I don’t know if I or any of my black aunts can handle Idris playing with our emotions like that. Like, at this point, I don’t even know if I want him to do it anymore. I don’t even think HE wants to do it anymore. remember that interview he did with Vanity Fair in 2019 where he spoke about the concerns he would have if he were to take on the role?

By Vanity Fair:

“You are just disheartened when you ask people from a generational perspective to say ‘It can’t be.’ And it turns out that it really is the color of my skin. And then if I get it and it doesn’t work, or it does, could it be because of the color of my skin? It’s a tough position to take when I don’t need it. James Bond is a much coveted, iconic and beloved character who takes audiences on this massive escape journey. Of course if someone said to me ‘Do you want to play James Bond?’ I would be like, Yeah! It’s fascinating to me. But it’s not something that I expressed, like “yes, I want to be the black James Bond”.

It’s valid, AF. I can understand this point of view. And if it’s still where it stands now, I say give it to Regé-Jean Page. Or Damson Idris. Or Aaron Pierre. Or Henry Golding. Or John David Washington.

If the man (read: Idris) doesn’t want to do it, I think it’s time to let him get away with it once and for all. Who knows, maybe in a few years he will surprise us.