Idris Elba Says Bond Rumors Were ‘Never Legit’ and ‘Not Realistic’: Audiences ‘Won’t Go for a Black Male Playing Bond’

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Idris Elba, 53, has definitively shut down decades of speculation about playing James Bond, telling Variety the rumors were never grounded in reality. The acclaimed actor, currently starring in "Masters of the Universe," said audiences "won't go for a Black male playing Bond", a stark assessment that cuts against the grain of ongoing industry debates about recasting the iconic spy. Elba has fielded Bond casting whispers since Daniel Craig's 2021 departure, but he's now made clear he never seriously pursued the role and doesn't believe it was ever actually available to him.