Idris Elba - Possible James Bond?

[KennyFuckinPowers]

Rumour has it that Idris Elba could be the next James Bond, but I already see Katie Hopkins has started her smug, bizarre rant about how he won't be and can't be etc.. etc... as He's a man of colour and James Bond isn't.

 

I thought Bond was a fictional character, and given that Elba was born and raised in London, I fail to see how this pandering to diversity, as she claims, as he's British at the end of the day. Not only that, there isn't many other British actors I can think off that are suitable, maybe Gerard Butler ( I know, I know )

 

I guess what I am trying to say is, I don't see why there's a problem with Elba, should he get the part, is it purely because he's Black that she is so against it? Seriously, if anyone can fill me in as to why he'd be such a bad choice due to his skin colour, I'd be delighted to hear it.

[Kowalski]

He’s already played it down.

 

Bond was born in Scotland to Scottish and Swiss parents? Somebody will correct me if that’s bull shit.

That doesn’t stop him being black.

 

But if it’s anything like the Daniel Craig announcement, it’ll be somewhat of a surprise. 

[tlg1903]

Love the bond movies,  I would take Elba in a heartbeat.  He's just got it.

[KennyFuckinPowers]

He’s already played it down.

 

Bond was born in Scotland to Scottish and Swiss parents? Somebody will correct me if that’s bull shit.

That doesn’t stop him being black.

 

But if it’s anything like the Daniel Craig announcement, it’ll be somewhat of a surprise.

 

I think Connery has been the only Scotsman to portray Bond then, therefore, surely confirming that her problem is purely because he's a black man. 

[Garlogie_Granite]

I think Connery has been the only Scotsman to portray Bond then, therefore, surely confirming that her problem is purely because he's a black man.

Indeed, although, on this occasion and probably for the first time, I agree with her.

 

The character isn't a black man, and while there have been terrible castings before - Tom Cruise as Reacher, John Hannah as Rebus spring easily to mind - it's surely not beyond the bounds to try to stay true to what the character is?

[RicoS321]

I hope he isn't the next Bond. Just to wind folk up really. They've made a thing out of something that didn't need to be and I think that it's a shame. Just make Elba the next Bond, don't build it up like it's some sort of breakthrough moment for black people or - in reverse - some sort of glass-ceiling that subconscious racism was preventing from happening. People saying "I think it would be great if one day there could be a black James Bond" are probably as much a part of the problem as those outraged by it. Just let things happen and people make decisions without influence. He's an actor who seems to be in the right mould to play James Bond, so get it done and let's see him in some films. The "celebration" behind it just holds things back in my opinion, it makes decisions like these obligatory and unnatural and subsequently not progressive. It just all seems a bit contrived. It takes away from his suitability for the role I think. Maybe it has to be this way, I'm not sure.

[KennyFuckinPowers]

Garlogie & Rico, if he's being cast as Bond purely to pander to the whole diversity thing, then I agree, it would be wrong to cast him purely because of that. But I would hope it was simply because he's probably the best suited actor for the role currently. 

[TheDeeDon]

I think he would be too old to play him. At 45 he would be hitting 50 by the time of the next film, need a younger loon to play him in my opinion. No idea who though.

 

I couldn't care less about the colour of the skin of JB, but it cannot be far off the point of female taking on the role, such are the strange times we live in.

[RicoS321]

Garlogie & Rico, if he's being cast as Bond purely to pander to the whole diversity thing, then I agree, it would be wrong to cast him purely because of that. But I would hope it was simply because he's probably the best suited actor for the role currently.

 

Given his age, as TheDeeDon points out, do you think that it is because he's the best suited? I don't think it's pandering on a ridiculous level mind you, just seems a little bit forced.

 

For what it's worth, I'd like to see Eddie Murphy given the opportunity. He was excellent in Police Academy with those sound effect vocals he used to do. Classic Murphy. I think he'd bring something to the role.

[rocket_scientist]

Firstly I wouldn't listen to Katie Hopkins. She's a shockjock who gets herself confused.

 

Secondly, not having seen a Bond film for over 40 years and not been to the cinema to see a Bond film since Connery (don't we grow out of this shit by the age of 13/14?), I really couldn't give a fuck who they appoint.

 

But the debate is interesting;

 

It may be the forces of political correctness suggesting a black actor. Distinguishing on ethnic grounds is normally evil but the only articulate argument I can think of for not having a black actor is the role itself. If Bond is supposed to be a traditional quintessentially British spy/action man/gentleman etc. then he's going to be white. Black men haven't been in Britain long enough to fit that mould and I'm pretty certain Ian Fleming wouldn't be casting anything other than what he wrote about, back in the day when there were considerably fewer ethic gentlemen in Britain. But since I've not read any of his Bond shit and I don't give a fuck, as you were...

[KennyFuckinPowers]

Given his age, as TheDeeDon points out, do you think that it is because he's the best suited? I don't think it's pandering on a ridiculous level mind you, just seems a little bit forced.

 

For what it's worth, I'd like to see Eddie Murphy given the opportunity. He was excellent in Police Academy with those sound effect vocals he used to do. Classic Murphy. I think he'd bring something to the role.

 

Yes, he was, he was equally as good in Blade!

[KennyFuckinPowers]

Firstly I wouldn't listen to Katie Hopkins. She's a shockjock who gets herself confused.

 

Secondly, not having seen a Bond film for over 40 years and not been to the cinema to see a Bond film since Connery (don't we grow out of this shit by the age of 13/14?), I really couldn't give a fuck who they appoint.

 

But the debate is interesting;

 

It may be the forces of political correctness suggesting a black actor. Distinguishing on ethnic grounds is normally evil but the only articulate argument I can think of for not having a black actor is the role itself. If Bond is supposed to be a traditional quintessentially British spy/action man/gentleman etc. then he's going to be white. Black men haven't been in Britain long enough to fit that mould and I'm pretty certain Ian Fleming wouldn't be casting anything other than what he wrote about, back in the day when there were considerably fewer ethic gentlemen in Britain. But since I've not read any of his Bond shit and I don't give a fuck, as you were...

 

And this is where I would strongly hope that it's not the case, if it is, then it shouldn't be him. My only hope is that if he's offered it, it's on merit.

 

Plus, anything to piss that looney Hopkins off.

[rocket_scientist]

And this is where I would strongly hope that it's not the case, if it is, then it shouldn't be him. My only hope is that if he's offered it, it's on merit.

 

If he has been offered it, or is going to be offered it, it must surely be because he's considered box office enough to be a huge success. The colour of his skin wouldn't have been a consideration, assuming that the potential argument based on the traditional perception of the role itself (as I articulated above) doesn't matter.

 

The only people who get upset by stuff like this are closet racists on one hand (like Hopkins, who even though being far from in the closet and is out there, she's too confused to know her own mind, blinded by her own delusions of superiority) and the out-there anti-racists on the other. As Rico said above, the whack jobs who push for "equality" and go too far are actually as bad and objectionable to any sane person as the bigots.

[Kowalski]

Always thought Damian Lewis would make a good Bond but he isn’t far off being 50!

[BobbyBiscuit]

Bond is absolute gash, in my opinion.  Elba is a good actor so he'd be doing it a favour.

 

Not sure why anyone gives a fuck if a fictional character is black or white or male or female (see Doctor Who).  If you enjoy the programme/film etc, it surely doesn't matter unless you're an arsehole who's a rampant racist, sexist or bigot (otherwise known as a "Hun")

[Goldie03]

Bond is absolute gash, in my opinion.  Elba is a good actor so he'd be doing it a favour.

 

Not sure why anyone gives a fuck if a fictional character is black or white or male or female (see Doctor Who).  If you enjoy the programme/film etc, it surely doesn't matter unless you're an arsehole who's a rampant racist, sexist or bigot (otherwise known as a "Hun")

 

This

 

Also surely the main factor in choosing Bond is a suave, sophisticated, good looking guy with piercing eyes so therefore Idris and obviously Damien Lewis would fit that bill 

[Lencarl]

Daniel Craig is the best James Bond ever,but even he is not worth the rumour that suggests he will be paid £60 million plus a percentage of the profits to play Bond for the last time.

 

The old Bond movies were played for laughs as anyone who saw Roger Moore as Bond can testify to.

 

Looking forward to the new movie even though Danny Boyle has dropped out of directing the next Bond film, blaming "creative differences. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Kowalski]

Daniel Craig is the best James Bond ever,but even he is not worth the rumour that suggests he will be paid £60 million plus a percentage of the profits to play Bond for the last time.

 

The old Bond movies were played for laughs as anyone who saw Roger Moore as Bond can testify to.

 

Looking forward to the new movie even though Danny Boyle has dropped out of directing the next Bond film, blaming "creative differences. 

 

Connery pisses all over Daniel Craig. Craig has done a great job though.

 

The very early Bond movies weren’t played for laughs. It was when Moore took over that they went all silly.

[tlg1903]

Agreed.  Craig is fine but the hyperbole about his bond often verges from ridiculous to nauseating. One thing craig is lacking though is that I would say all previous bonds have had at least 1 great bond movie and he hasn't.  Moore had the spy who loved me, dalton had the living daylights and brosnan had goldeneye (still the last great bond movie).  Casino royale and spectre were decent enough but nothing special.  Qofs and skyfall were shite.  I would say spectre is probably his best, of them all it felt most like a bond movie.