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Idris Elba quashes James Bond dreams

Entertainment | Celebrities

Idris Elba quashes James Bond dreams

By Punch Liwanag

The popular UK actor has bowed out of the running in taking the mantle of Agent 007.

In a recent interview, actor Idris Elba firmly said, “No, I’m not going to be James Bond.”

This was his answer when pressed by ITV London at the opening gala of the London Film Festival last Wednesday.

For the past few months, rumors swirled that Idris Elba would take over Daniel Craig after the latter announced that the latest Bond film installment “No Time To Die”, his fifth time as Bond, was going to be his last.

Idris Elba would have made history as the first Black actor to take on the role of the popular character from the Ian Fleming books. Asked whether he’d like to take part in the franchise someday in the future, Elba replied, “Who wouldn’t?”

“How amazing would it be to have a Black James Bond? It’s a sign of the times when we can stop talking about black, white, and color,” Elba said.

Other names floated to be the next James Bond are Bridgerton’s Regé-Jean Page. The actor could also potentially be the first Black actor to play the role. Tom Hardy and James Norton are also included in the circle of potential James Bond’s.

Daniel Craig’s “No Time To Die” scored the biggest UK opening weekend for a Bond movie ever as it earned over £21million in its first three days. The total so far is £87million ($119.1 million) after it opened internationally despite the pandemic.

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