Idris Elba As The New Double O Seven? We're Excited, But People Are Divided

Please oh please, let the rumors be true. 

 

my name’s Elba, Idris Elba. pic.twitter.com/kEyyaVg8JX

— Idris Elba (@idriselba) August 12, 2018

 

 

A post shared by Idris Elba (@idriselba) on Dec 31, 2015 at 5:31am PST

 

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After years of coyly veering away from the subject, Idris Elba appeared to finally address the mounting inquiries that have tailed his career for far too long. The English actor, now 45 years old, has been speculated to be the next James Bond reincarnation since 2014, and in an unexplained Tweet posted just a few hours ago as of this writing, he might have just confirmed the rumors. 

In a play of James Bond's famous catchphrase, Idris wrote, "My name's Elba, Idris Elba." The mysterious Tweet has since been shared and liked thousands of times, with his most staunch supporters sounding the alarm on social media. After all, it's the most that Idris has said about the issue in recent memory—and despite its vagueness, for the most part, it looks like it's a good sign. 

 

Here are some thoughts from people who approve of the reignited speculation:

 

Idris Elba has the charisma of both Sean Connery and Roger Moore. Few men have this. He has an appeal that is very hard to find in anyone. Smooth, Debonair, Sexy, Handsome, Athletic and he’s made of chocolate! He will make a great James Bond! #IdrisElba

— andstillirise (@andstillrise) August 10, 2018

 

#idriselba I can hear it in my head, when he will say "Bond, James Bond". #newjamesbond ?? pic.twitter.com/rOwQh2Fdww

— Robin WalkerWilliams (@momacrosby) August 10, 2018

 

If Idris Elba is the next James Bond I’ll be there to watch it!
????#JamesBond #IdrisElba

— Helen; (@helen_a15) August 10, 2018

 

Good news for women and men everywhere today that #IdrisElba
looks set to be the new James Bond!!!

I've said it for ages that he would be amazing in the role and nooo, not just because he is handsome but because he's an awesome actor.

— Jo • CaledonianKitty (@CaledonianKitty) August 10, 2018

 

#IdrisElba as Bond you say? Shut up and take my money already.

Now there's a good version of #Bond and I hope they make it grittier and darker. pic.twitter.com/gFlOdRDFxf

— Rich Lewis ???‍???????????????? (@richwithtea) August 10, 2018

 

Heard #IdrisElba is rumoured to become the next bond and all I can say is... MAKE IT HAPPEN Hollywood! ?? #IdrisAsBond #JamesBond #007Bond #filmtwitter pic.twitter.com/5o4RQcrIgb

— Duane Miller (@Cinemaniac94) August 10, 2018

 

It could happen. Idris Elba as 007. Would love it! #IdrisElba #IdrisAsBond pic.twitter.com/0PtCSSWugb

— Minnette Coleman - Author (@MinnetteColeman) August 10, 2018

 

Honestly, if #IdrisElba is the next James Bond, I might just watch my first Bond movie in my life!

— Cee (@CharmedTink) August 10, 2018

 

 

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Idris loyalists aren't just giddy about the fact that the smoldering London-born looker could potentially become the next face of Britain's most quintessential spy saga, though; they're rooting for him because of his opportunity to make history. 

In the James Bond series' 56-year-long history, there hasn't been a single non-Caucasian actor to take on the role in its books' film adaptations. Of course, Ian Fleming might have initially envisioned a white man to take on the iconic role (as proven by an illustration drawn up by Ian himself that clearly depicts a white man), but many moviegoers of this day and age have voiced the need for change in the aging franchise. James Bond, as it seems, might be in store for a meaningful makeover, and one that can be achieved by switching up the race card. 

Unfortunately, the potential choice of casting an African-English man—even one as debonaire and refined as Idris—has also been met with an equal portion of criticism and resistance from Bond purists. Their opinion is mainly fueled by two points: Agent 007 was never meant to be black, so why the need to change things up just to cater to today's "social trends," and that Idris is simply too old to play the role. He'll be pushing 50 by the time the next Bond reboot begins, and the character was always meant to be in his late 30s, at most.

 

This is what the other side of the fence has to say:

 

#IdrisElba would be a good Bond but the dude’s almost 50. Tom Hardy is a better choice...

— Karlsson (@BoltsAndBeau) August 10, 2018

 

Take yourself for a walk if you think #IdrisElba can be James Bond ! He’s black , #bond is white . You wouldn’t get a white man playing a black bloke ??

— Gaz (@Returnofthepac1) August 12, 2018

 

Bond has a specific look to him & background based on the books. The race swap is just stupid, IMO.

It would be better to do what's suggested here by making a fresh character in the Bond universe that maybe eventually fights alongside James Bond.#JamesBond #IdrisElba https://t.co/WnJrCk5TX3

— Eric Electron (@ericelectron2) August 11, 2018

 

So #esquire magazine prods the rumour that refuses to die. Will #IdrisElba be #JamesBond...? Highly unlikely. Will we get a black #OO7? Most probably. But it won't be #Bond. The character would have to change significantly for that to work & then is it still Bond anymore? pic.twitter.com/BdVFvzVE7S

— THE ??? FILES (@The007Files) August 10, 2018

 

Let's cast Idris Elba as a villain so we can stop this pointless cycle of "news" about him being cast as James Bond.#JamesBond #IdrisElba #Bond26 #007thJamesBond #DanielCraig

— oo7 in Los Angeles (@007inLA) August 11, 2018

 

As history shows, the back and forth about Idris' involvement in the Bond universe feels like it's been going on forever, but a glimmer of hope for those who have been willing for things to swing in favor of Idris appeared in a report published in The Daily Star: 

Barbara Broccoli, the producer behind of a Bond film, was quoted to have told her friend, director Antoine Fuqua, that a black man playing Bond would happen eventually. The director was reported to have responded by saying "You need a guy with physically strong presence. Idris has that."

Neither Barbara nor Antoine have officially confirmed nor denied the news, but it's what's keeping our fingers tightly crossed. 

 

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A post shared by Idris Elba (@idriselba) on Feb 23, 2018 at 5:04am PST

 

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Should Idris (finally) land the part, he'll be at the heels of the franchise's current Bond played by Daniel Craig, and the eight actor to play Double O Seven. (Sean Connery, David Niven, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and most recently, Daniel Craig have all played the role of the world's most famous secret agent). 

At this point, we'll really just have to sit tight and hold our breath, and better yet, allow ourselves to refresh Idris' social media feeds once in a while to fish for tasty morsels of updates or clues about his Bond status.

The next Bond is set to screen in November 2019, and will likely be Daniel Craig's last hurrah as the smooth-talking spy. 

 

Photos from @idriselba