Idris Elba Doesn’T Want To Just Be ‘The Black Guy Who Plays Bond’ …..

[naomi24]

….after producers hint at ‘diversifying’ 007. ‘I think it’s more about, “We just want to have a black guy play James Bond” rather than, “Idris Elba, the actor, play James Bond”, he said.

https://metro.co.uk/2018/08/20/idris-elba-doesnt-want-to-just-be-the-black-guy-who-plays-bond-after-producers-hint-at-diversifying-007-7858666/

Is he right? I think so. Clearly a man of integrity.

[jno]

playing 007, whatever your colour, sex or age, is a straitjacket. You get rich and famous, and you get stereotyped as an actor. Also, the Bond films are mostly not that good, however financially successful they are: for some time now they've been a cross between Bourne and Batman.

[Old_Geezer]

I saw this in recent posts and was sure the title would end, "for Christmas"

[naomi24]

jno, that's irrelevant.

[Old_Geezer]

But he's likely to be the black actor that took a white role. We've already ascertained gay actors for gay roles, murderers for murderer roles, and so on and so forth.

[rowanwitch]

Sometimes diversity goes too far, Fleming describes Bond and I think they should stay true to the authors original idea.

[jno]

it's entirely relevant, naomi. Anyone who takes the role becomes known as the man who plays Bond, which is limiting. To be known as the black man who plays Bond would be even more limiting, with everyone thinking he's only got the role because of his colour.

[jno]

rowan, if they'd stuck with Fleming's description (Fleming wanted David Niven), they wouldn't have hired a Scot and the series might never have got off the ground.

[rowanwitch]

I think a good action spy role would be great for him, but even then he would open himself up to Bond comparisons. It's a difficult decision for him and probably a touch of the poisoned chalice.

[ummmm]

Idris is Luther. Maybe playing Bond will help change that.

I don't watch James Bond films so I think he'd be wasted on it.

[rowanwitch]

If only.... my first husband was a bond nut.... all those wasted hours I could have saved

[Old_Geezer]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bond_(literary_character)

General references in the novels describe Bond as having "dark, rather cruel good looks".[25]

Darker than expected probably :-D

[tamborine]

Wrong - not all black guys are fit & handsome

[LadyCG]

Good on him.

He's a sexy man and a good actor but not right for James Bond. I wouldn't throw him out of bed for eating crackers but I wouldn't watch a bond film with him playing the title character on principle.

[naomi24]

jno, that isn’t the reason he won’t play the part. It has no bearing on his decision whatsoever. Entirely irrelevant – but it skirts the question...

[Garaman]

Probably true, and he is right to turn it down if he thinks it is. Sad though because for me Idris Elba, the actor, could play James Bond.

[Kromovaracun]

I thought he had hinted on Twitter that he was going to accept the role. He's not explicitly ruling it out here - I think he's displaying a sensible amount of caution.

Regarding the question of his suitability, Idris Elba is charismatic and handsome, and in my opinion is more suave than the current Bond (who is the only Bond one would ever consider using to advertise beer). But I also think he's a bit too close to the more 'serious' note that the Craig movies have been trying to introduce. Bond works best as a silly character with over-the-top storylines and baddies. I'd want to be sure that Elba could do the Moore-style eyebrow-raises and pervy winks to the audience. That's what I want from a Bond. All of his previous roles that I've seen have tended towards the gritty hard-man type of performance that I think is completely out of tone with the character.

[naomi24]

From my point of view casting a black man in a role solely because he is black is patronising on the extreme. I admire Idris Elba for having the integrity to say what he’s said.

[Kromovaracun]

//Tom Daley in a Tarzan remake?//

Should I feel guilty for thinking 'I would watch that'?