Idris Elba: "Don't try to make James Bond woke"
Sir Idris Elba has said the James Bond franchise should remain faithful to its original character and avoid being shaped by changing social trends.
Sir Idris Elba has said the next James Bond should remain true to the character's roots and warned against trying to make the franchise "woke".
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Speaking to GQ, the actor - long linked with the role of 007 despite repeatedly denying he was ever a serious contender - said Bond "was written how he was written for a reason" and argued the films should remain focused on escapism rather than reflecting changing social trends.
Elba also suggested that some international audiences would struggle to accept a Black actor playing Bond.
"Bond is big all over the world, and some markets won't go for a Black male, an African male, playing Bond," he said.
The comments come as the search for the next James Bond gathers pace, with auditions reportedly underway following the departure of Daniel Craig after 2021's No Time to Die.
The next Bond film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight.
Actors linked to the role include Callum Turner, Henry Cavill and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
Elba is currently appearing as Man-at-Arms in the upcoming Masters of the Universe.