Idris Elba denies playing a black James Bond, says "let’s not try and make it woke"

Idris Elba has officially shut down over a decade of casting speculation, stating that the James Bond rumors were "never legit" and "not a realistic thing." In a cover interview with ⁠British GQ's Heroes Issue, he said while the rumors were flattering, they were never part of official discussions and added that some global markets might not accept a Black James Bond as "that’s not what they like in their culture." Elba pressed a desire to keep the character's traditional, escapist appeal and let the character be "pure". After him, current frontrunners include Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Henry Cavill, and Theo James. The next installment is reportedly being developed with director Denis Villeneuve and writer Steven Knight.