Idris Elba: James Bond 25 Rumors During Oscars 2016 Support Casting Black Actor As Daniel Craig’s Replacement

The Oscars 2016 is probably one of the best events to drum up rumors, especially considering how many eyes are watching the awards. If Idris Elba is given the titular role in the James Bond 25 movie, it will largely be due to the influence of public opinion. Reports indicate the “Hollywood elite” are beginning to line up behind Elba even though there is some debate about the issue.

One thing is for certain. Daniel Craig is unlikely to return for James Bond 25, which has yet to receive an official title. Craig didn’t mince his words, claiming that he would “rather slash his wrists” than star in another James Bond film. When it comes to the controversy over who should be the next 007, Craig was also indifferent.

“Look, I don’t give a f***. Good luck to them,” he said.

The whole controversy began when Elba participated in an “Ask Me Anything” Q&A session on Reddit back in 2014. At one point, one Reddit user asked, “If it were offered to you, would you be the next James Bond?”

Elba answered, “Yes, if it was offered to me, absolutely.”

This simple response ignited a firestorm of controversy. Fans seemed divided on the issue from the outset, with some people objecting to the casting of a previously white character as black because it’s untrue to the original source material. Others welcomed the idea of a black James Bond, while some thought the only reason it would happen is due to political correctness. Some fans also insisted that creating a new black super spy character would be more appropriate.

One of those who would not support Idris Elba’s James Bond aspirations were Pierce Brosnan and 007 author Anthony Horowitz. The writer claimed Elba was simply “too street” to play as Bond, while Brosnan insisted the titular character needed to remain white and male.

“He’ll be male and he’ll be white,” Brosnan declared, according to Express. “A female James Bond, no, I think it has to be male. James Bond is a guy, he’s all male. His name is James, his name is James Bond.”

Fast forward to the fall of 2015 and Elba noted that the James Bond 25 rumors were still just that: rumors.

“It’s all rumor-ville,” he explained. “I’m not speaking to the James Bond people. They are not speaking to me. So if it was to happen, there you go — the will of the nation.”

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A new report from the New York Post indicates the Oscars 2016 may have triggered the discussion once again due to the issue of racial diversity in movies. Will Smith and his wife have famously boycotted the Oscars, but the Post claims this debate has some of the Hollywood elite giving the nod to Elba’s hope of donning the 007 tuxedo.

“As Elba made the rounds of Hollywood parties on Friday night, one power movie exec told us of Elba as 007, ‘Is the world ready? I think so.’ Further sources added they were confident Elba could take on the iconic part.”

While the 2016 Oscars rumors are leaning in favor of Elba, the actor admits it’s the general public, not the Hollywood elites, whom he would have to thank if he joins the James Bond 25 cast.

“If human beings want to know if there’s any connectivity between all of us, the one thing I’ve heard around the world universally is that, ‘You’ll be great at James Bond!'” Elba told Variety. “If it should happen, that’s proof there’s connectivity amongst human beings. If everyone wants something, they can make it happen. That would be true.”

[Image Composite via Patrick Frye]