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Push To Cast Idris Elba As James Bond Intensifies, Daniel Craig Says He’s Done With The Role

By Val Powell
Published on: 02:29 PST, May 20, 2016

As Daniel Craig bows out of the James Bond franchise, the clamor to cast Idris Elba to play the titular role becomes stronger. The No Good Deed actor’s name has been thrown around to take on the role of the iconic spy along with Damian Lewis and Tom Hiddleston.

Idris Elba’s “charisma, gravitas, and sex appeal” has been seen as his greatest qualifications to be cast for the role. A report from the Daily Beast noted that he fits the character’s description to the T. However, the actor may not disassociate himself from being tagged as “the black Bond.”

If indeed the actor gets the role, there is fear he would be confined to that label.

When his name was being associated with the James Bond movie last fall, Idris Elba was philosophic about the situation.

“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.”

By December, Idris Elba was not thrilled to talk about James Bond and the people’s obsession with it.

In an interview, he specifically downplayed his desire to star as Bond after being asked about the movie. He said doing so would feel like he is campaigning.

“It feels like I’m campaigning, and I’m not. At first, it was harmless – oh, I know, wouldn’t it be great? – and now it’s started off racial debates,” Idris Elba said. “I’m probably the most famous Bond actor in the world, and I’ve not even played the role. Enough is enough. I can’t talk about it anymore.”

True enough, debate rose about the possibility that he may get the James Bond role. There were some who pointed out that James Bond has and will always be white.

Nonetheless, the Daily Beast article said that what makes the actors, who previously played James Bond in the movie, successful was their performance.

Meanwhile, an article from the Guardian noted that Idris Elba is “far more suited” to be cast as James Bond.

The Standard, on the other hand, pointed out that the major roles the actor previously played “are more gruff and burly than previous 007s.” Then, there is also his age. The actor is already 43, which would mean he would have to play James Bond in his later years.

The news about Daniel Craig leaving the franchise behind intensified after a source told the Daily Mail that he is done with it.

“Daniel is done – pure and simple – he told top brass at MGM after Spectre. They threw huge amounts of money at him, but it just wasn’t what he wanted,” the source said.

Reportedly, the plan to leave the franchise was crafted after shooting his most recent James Bond movie.

“He had told people after shooting that this would be his final outing, but the film company still felt he could come around after Spectre if he was offered a money deal,” the source shared.

However, film executives finally decided to let Daniel Craig go after they grew tired of the actor’s supposed criticism of the movie franchise.

It can be recalled that he famously said he would rather slash his wrist than star in another Bond film.

Conversely, a bookmaker stopped betting after Tom Hiddleston was highly favored to take on the James Bond role amid Idris Elba’s popularity. The odds reportedly shifted after the High-Rise actor was spotted with Sam Mendes, the director of Skyfall and Spectre, and Barbara Broccoli, the franchise’s producer.

The Coral bookmakers decided to suspend the betting after a big gamble was made in favor of Tom Hiddleston.

[Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images]

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