Idris Elba has finally put the rumours about him being cast as the next James Bond to bed.
The Luther actor, 51, revealed that he will not be following in Daniel Craig’s shoes in the coming 007 hit and is not getting a license a kill.
He admitted that he is ‘ancient’ and while he appreciated the compliment of being considered back in 2009, the opportunity is now ‘dead’.
Speaking to Chris Moyles on his Radio X morning show, Idris joked that the longstanding rumours surrounding the agent role have made him ‘more famous for not playing Bond’ than ‘some of the actors who did’.
Chris quipped: ‘There were loads of rumours flying around a few years ago about you and a certain infamous role of a British agent, right? James Bond. Right? Was that ever a thing? Was that ever close to being a thing? Did you ever want it? There were rumours, but I don’t know if you ever spoke out about it one way or the other.’
Idris Elba has finally put the rumours about him being cast as the next James Bond to bed
The Luther actor, 51, revealed that he will not be following in Daniel Craig ‘s shoes in the coming 007 hit and is not getting a license a kill
Idris replied: ‘I have several times, several sort of half-a-million times. No, it was definitely one of the biggest rumours.
‘I’m arguably more famous for not playing Bond than some of the actors who did!
‘And you know, it’s been one that I’ve taken lightly at times. You know, everyone loves Bond. Such a fantastic character, and just to me, I found it as a compliment to be considered all those years ago.’
Chris persisted: ‘But listen, you never know. It’s not dead’, but he was shot down by the acting sensation who responded: ‘Well, I mean yeah, it is. The rumour has definitely done.
‘And I mean, I’m ancient now. I don’t know what kind of Bond I’d be.’
The radio host replied: ‘But there’s always… Yeah, you’re probably right, actually.’
Not giving up on the thought of Idris getting involved in the highly-anticipated motion picture, Chris added: ‘Well, what about Bond villains? Bond villain?’
Idris said: ‘Well, I think probably, if I’m really honest, I did the Luther movie. And my instinct about doing the movie version verses the TV, is to take it bigger. Bigger, bigger landscapes and maybe fill that void.’
He admitted that he is ‘ancient’ and while he appreciated the compliment of being considered back in 2009, the opportunity is now ‘dead’
Speaking to Chris Moyles on his Radio X morning show, Idris joked that the longstanding rumours surrounding the agent role have made him ‘more famous for not playing Bond’ than ‘some of the actors who did’
It comes following the recent chatter over who will be the next man to take on the iconic role.
It was recently believed that Aaron Taylor-Johnson could be getting himself a license to kill in four James Bond films after ‘endless discussions’ with studio execs – who insiders claim are hoping he can replace Daniel Craig to lead the franchise into a new age with a ‘fantasy’ twist.
The British actor, 33, has reportedly been formally offered the chance to play 007, with sources claiming bosses have already taken extraordinary lengths to secure him.
Producer Barbara Broccoli, 63, is not considering anyone else, according to insiders, who have claimed costume fittings for Aaron are already allegedly underway.
‘It is all in the details and agents and lawyers are going through all the red tape and how many movies Aaron will sign up for.
It comes following the recent chatter over who will be the next man to take on the iconic role
It was recently believed that Aaron Taylor-Johnson could be getting himself a license to kill in four James Bond films after ‘endless discussions’ with studio execs – who insiders claim are hoping he can replace Daniel Craig to lead the franchise into a new age with a ‘fantasy’ twist
The British actor, 33, has reportedly been formally offered the chance to play 007 , with sources claiming bosses have already taken extraordinary lengths to secure him
‘It is currently looking to be a three-picture deal with the option of a fourth.
‘They have done all the fittings, they have the haircut they have in mind for him, and he’s already in tremendous shape.
‘Barbara Broccoli and the rest of the producers are going to make a huge deal out of the announcement.’
Earlier this year, it was reported that the Kick Ass actor is on the verge of inking a deal to take over from Daniel as the titular spy after he retired from the role following his swansong in 2021 blockbuster No Time To Die.
Aaron was coy when questioned previously about the rumors, telling Numero magazine earlier this month: ‘I find it charming and wonderful that people see me in that role. I take it as a great compliment.’
A recent poll suggested Idris is still the public’s number one choice to replace Daniel, despite being 51 – old for a Bond candidate – and already ruling himself out of the running in order to focus on his crime drama, Luther.
Back in August 2022, it was reported he had walked away from ‘years of talks’ with movie bosses to take over the famous role.
Last summer, Idris admitted that he used to be ‘super complimented’ by the idea of playing Bond, saying it was the ‘pinnacle.’
But he told Variety that he was turned off, when ‘those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense and I got the brunt of it.’
Meanwhile, Michael Fassbender has also ruled himself out, saying he thought a younger star should take on the role.
When asked by GQ magazine if he would be up for the part, the actor, 46, said: ‘To be honest, no.’
A recent poll suggested Idris is still the public’s number one choice to replace Daniel, despite being 51 – old for a Bond candidate – and already ruling himself out of the running in order to focus on his crime drama, Luther
Meanwhil, Michael Fassbender, 46, has also ruled himself out, saying he thought a younger star should take on the role
Aaron is yet to officially accept the role or make a formal comment on his standing but in March he spoke out in an interview with Rolling Stone UK , insisting he won’t be a part of the ‘pop culture studio film’ machine
In a cover shoot to promote his latest role in Sony’s next Marvel film Kraven the Hunter, Aaron muses on the direction his stellar career is heading after two decades on the big screen.
Asked directly about the reports that he is in talks to be Bond, the actor coyly replied that he ‘can only really talk about the things I’m going to show and tell,’ before tellingly adding:
‘I don’t feel like I need to have a future drawn out for me. I feel like, whatever’s drawn out for me, I can f**kin’ do better.’
Aaron is yet to officially accept the role or make a formal comment on his standing but in March he spoke out in an interview with Rolling Stone UK , insisting he won’t be a part of the ‘pop culture studio film’ machine
Asked directly about the reports that he is in talks to be Bond, the actor coyly replied that he ‘can only really talk about the things I’m going to show and tell’
While he hasn’t been cast as Bond, Aaron has taken on the lead in another big budget action franchise.
But the actor insists he can find the nuances in any character, even in Kraven – a big-game hunter whose singular goal in life is to beat Spider-Man.
‘I think there was something unique about this character, and something grounded,’ he insists, adding: ‘We’ve all had enough of seeing certain studio films, a certain kind of pop culture… where they’re churning out stuff that dilutes wanting to go to the cinema’.
‘I wouldn’t have signed onto it if I felt there wasn’t something to really bring to life with this character.’
The star adds that the extreme physical transformation he undertook to play the Marvel villain made him ponder if he wanted to put himself through it for film after film, explaining: ‘I wanted to approach it like an actor, and I’m not someone who’s just juicing up and going to the gym.’
‘I don’t necessarily want this to be my brand, doing one action movie after another. But I trained to the point where I was 200 pounds of muscle. I ate so much f**king food. I was so big.’
James Bond producers have still not made a formal announcement to confirm who will be the next 007.
All the previous actors to star as James Bond
James Bond has been thrilling cinema-goers worldwide with his adrenaline-fuelled secret missions to exotic places for more than 60 years.
The British spy, codenamed 007, has found himself fighting villains and terrorists on the moon, under water and at the top of a skyscraper.
And since his big screen debut in 1962, only six actors have played Bond (seven, if you include the portrayal of 007 by Peter Sellers in 1967’s comedy spoof ‘Casino Royal’).
The hunt is now on to find the latest Bond, with front-runners including Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill and Cillian Murphy. Now, we look back at all the previous actors to star as 007.
Sean Connery: 1962-1971
Sean Connery was the first Bond to hit the big screen in a dashing debut as 007
The first star to hit the screen as Bond was the devastatingly charming Sean Connery, starring in 1962’s Dr. No.
The acclaimed Scotsman went on to feature in five more Bond flicks, before retiring as 007 in 1971’s Diamonds are Forever.
George Lazenby: 1969
He may only have had one outing as James Bond, was met with a mixed reception
However, George Lazenby made his only appearance as the British spy in 1969’s 007 On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
He’s version of Bond, however, was met with a mixed reception. Some lauded him for a more serious portray of the spy. But others felt he was uncharismatic, and lacked the suave and charm of Connery.
Roger Moore: 1977-1985
Roger Moore was one of the longest-serving Bonds, featuring in seven films
Roger Moore became the next Bond, featuring in seven films from 1977’s Live and Let Die, to his final outing in 1985’s A View to a Kill.
Moore’s turn as 007 brought without some outlandish and ludicrous plot lines, which featured him battling on the moon in Moonraker.
Timothy Dalton: 1985-1989
Timothy Dalton was next to take on the mantle, debuting as Bond in 1987’s The Living Daylights.
Timothy Dalton was next to take on the mantle, debuting as Bond in 1987’s The Living Daylights.
Dalton’s portrayal brought a gritter and more serious Bond to the screen, with a darker sense of humour.
He featured in one more Bond film, A Licence to Kill, in 1989 before being replaced.
Pierce Brosnan: 1995-2002
Pierce Brosnan was the next bond, debuting in 1995’s Goldeneye
It took six years for Dalton’s replacement, Pierce Brosnan, to get his outing in the 1995 smash-hit Golden Eye.
Brosnan went on to do three more Bond films during his seven-year stint as 007, which wound with Die Another Die in 2002.
Daniel Craig: 2006-2021
Daniel Craig’s take on Bond saw a beefed up version of the British spy taking to the screens (pictured in-character in 2020)
Daniel Craig stepped Bond’s in 2006 with a cinematic reset of the titular spy, replacing the gadgetry of previous installments with a grittier and more muscular reinvention of 007.
His opening portrayal of a more haunted Bond in his debut film, Casino Royal, was critically celebrated – hailed as one of the best Bonds in years.
Craig would feature in four more films before finally downing his last Martini – shaken, not stirred – in 2021’s No Time To Die, becoming the first Bond to be killed on screen.
