http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/news/idris-elba-is-too-street-to-play-007-says-james-bond-author-10480532.html

Author Anthony Horowitz has waded in on the casting of James Bond after Daniel Craig exits the franchise, saying he does not think bookies' favourite Idris Elba is right for the part, though he insists “it’s not a colour issue”.

"For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It's not a colour issue. I think he is probably a bit too "street" for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah,” he told The Daily Mail.

Horowitz, who is currently writing the next James Bond novel ‘Trigger Mortis’ (side note: how Alan Partridge is that title) also revealed that he disliked Sam Mendes’ widely-acclaimed Skyfall movie, picking apart its plot.
VOICES: IDRIS ELBA SHOULDN'T PLAY BOND, BUT NOT BECAUSE HE'S 'TOO STREET' - IT'S BENEATH HIM

He thought Daniel Craig was “terrific”, enjoyed Casino Royale’s “gritty” style, but thought Skyfall made Bond seem “weak” (though many saw this as a good thing narrative-wise).

"Quantum of Solace just went wrong. Skyfall is my least favourite. I know it is heresy to say so, but it is the one Bond film I have never liked,” he said.

“Bond is weak in it. He has doubts. That's not Bond.

"Secondly, the villain wins. The villain sets out to kill M. The film finishes with the villain killing M. So why have I watched it?

"And if you have to protect the head of MI6 from a madman, do you take her to a Scottish farmhouse with no weapons? And tell your bad guy where you are, so he will arrive with six people to kill her? … It's that sort of thing that made me angry."

The next James Bond film Spectre will begin 007’s origin story, and hits cinemas on 6 November, 2015.


http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/idris-elba-shouldnt-be-james-bond-but-not-because-hes-too-street--the-role-is-beneath-him-10481049.html

Rumours that Idris Elba will be taking over from Daniel Craig as the next James Bond have been rumbling for months now, seemingly out of nowhere, and spurred on by many’s desire to see a black man in the role for the first time. I can see where people are coming from, but why bother to try and make a progressive step in a fundamentally troglodytic franchise?
Current 007 author Anthony Horowitz stunned the internet this morning by declaring Elba “too rough” and “a bit too street” for the role, and, racist undertones aside (which his “it’s not a colour issue” qualifier don’t excuse), his claim is manifestly untrue.

Elba has shown extraordinary range in his career thus far, and given he so delicately played the looming, guarded, inscrutable character that was Stringer Bell in The Wire, I daresay he could handle a pun-spewing, fairly one-dimensional spy.

In fairness, Skyfall was a good movie (making up for the train wreck that was Quantum of Solace) and director Sam Mendes should be commended for managing to build such a compelling story out of such limited blocks.

Describing Bond as “f*cking lonely” and a misogynist, Daniel Craig hinted as much in a recent Esquire interview.

“The world has changed. I am certainly not that [sexist and misogynistic] person. But he is, and so what does that mean? It means you cast great actresses and make the parts as good as you can for the women in the movies.”

'Make it as good as you can, given the stale and out-of-date premise', seemed to be the take away, and while Elba previously told fans he was “glad [they] think I’ve got a shot” he might be wise to avoid the franchise and work on something more original. After all, he described working on the similarly money-orientated Avengers series as “torture”.

This is nowhere near Samuel L Jackson in a Star Wars film. It's future it's space it's fantasy it's sci-fi, it could happen did happen and was well played.
Idris as Bond 007... A ridiculously far stretch that would disenfranchise the 50 some odd year old franchise's core audience. It'd have been like Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves (I love Chipper Jones and the Braves are my favorite team for over 20 years) playing Jackie Robinson in 42. It would be believable and both would have the skills to pull it off but it would'nt feel right. It would detract from the film like a cloud of gnats or someone farting up a storm two seats away.
Idris Elba is an extremely talented actor and he will get better roles. Craig is a good Bond imo and has done better films himself.

i didn't like Daniel Craig too much...

i think it would be interesting to cast Idris Elba, tho. Pierce Brosnan thinks so too.

he also opened the topic on casting(or not) a gay 007...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3210739/Pierce-Brosnan-claims-producers-won-t-allow-gay-007-backs-Idris-Elba-Daniel-Craig.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/jamesbond/11417154/Pierce-Brosnan-Idris-Elba-would-make-a-good-Bond.html

Idris Elba???? Have they lost their marbles?
I don't think James Bond should be black. Ever. And that's not a racist thing, just that JB is white, has always been white and should remain that way.
I don't get why people always have to throw the racist card around.

Idris Elba is a stunning actor, can't remember what I've seen him in, but absolutely marvelous. Very sexy, attractive man as well. But still should not play James Bond.

And dang, will I miss Daniel Craig! Understand he wants to quit, he's 47, all that physical stuff must be starting to get a bit hard on the body. But dang, was he a great Bond!

Daniel Craig has been my least favorite Bond, but it's not just his portrayal of Bond, but the films themselves, they just aren't fun anymore. They just don't feel like Bond films anymore, but pretty much feel like every other generic mainstream action movie of the post-2000s.

I do remember years ago I saw a list of actors being considered for Bond, one of them was Eddie Murphy.

Samuel Jackson didn't play an already established character, if they suddenly cast Han Solo as black, or Lando as white that would be more close to their being a black Bond or not.

Gerard Butler or Joethebricky would make great JB's

This is how I feel pretty much. The Action is beautiful, very well choreographed. The Explosions are very pretty, but it doesn't have the same sense of fun that most of the older movies had. Even the one liners have got much worse than they were. I had gone off Bond movies shortly after watching Casino Royale(Craig). I remember watching Quantum though I can't really remember much of the film itself. There was nothing in it that made it stand out.

Pulp Fiction, the best SLJ film to date...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIvUGUzR9N0

i still think Daniel Craig was one of the better bonds...

Samuel's first movie was with Eddie, Coming to America...

Suave...very Bond.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3220444/I-learnt-Street-Idris-Elba-tells-James-Bond-author-Anthony-Horowitz-Smiling-apologized-saying-actor-wasn-t-suave-play-007.html

Idris Elba would make a brilliant 007.
Danial Craig is my favorite 007.

Actually, Idris Elba playing 007 is just as realistic as any other Bond before him considering M-15 often recruited and trained Black Britons as spies and operatives to destabilize the many indepenence movements in Britains former colonies.

In fact, during the Boar wars, Britain's Black operatives were the ones utilize to undermine South African Blacks who sided with the Dutch.

Britain had many Black operatives and spies.

But I think he'd make a great Bond, but Danial Craig is my all time favorate, he is more convincing actor than those before him. Just in my opinion. Others choose Sean Connery as the best.

the race of Bond shouldn't matter, what should matter is his acting abilities.

As for race, Great Britain had an army of Black spies needed to maintain the Empire that the sun never set.

Yeah, can be true, still doesn't mean to say that JB has to be black. Same thing if Superman suddenly would be black or Asian. Doesn't work, and there shouldn't be a need to do so. Why should white people always have to prove we don't discriminate?
True equality would simply accept that Donald Duck is white, so is Ivanhoe and so is James Bond.

And yes, Idris Elba would make a good spy or action hero, so maybe if they do a similar series or movie sequel he could be the guy.

Me too. And yes, the movies have changed, more action etc. but I don't think anyone would want to see the childish BS from the past with Roger Moore etc.
Back in the day that was good, but times change, and people want to see different things. An attractive man in a suit that has a sexy smile and sips shaken, not stirred, Martinis, and saves the world whilst doing that, is totally unbelievable.

Personally I the action

Donald duck is a cartoon duck, superman is fictitious therefore, unless they're copy written, one can do whatever with them.
In fact, many of American cartoons are of Japanese origin. We remodified them.

Making this racial is asinine. It wouldn't bother me one bit, the important thing is the ability to act and convey the character convincingly.

i think denzel washington would have made a great bond... way better than Pierce Bronson...

I have to agree here, there are some roles that demographic is important

annie , was a female and an orphan with red hair

superman, obviously was a male, but was alien so race is irrelevant

kunte kinte was a black slave,

but the demographic BOND is exclusive to to me is british

which idris elba is,,,


beyond that, for me,, who cares?

Ah ha! I knew that some of the imperial storm troopers were black.