Noah Romsdal Hallundbæk Sørensen
Idris Elba says he was never in the running for the James Bond role, and now wishes the upcoming 007 film all the luck in the world.
Idris Elba has for years been one of the most frequently mentioned names in speculation about who will inherit Daniel Craig’s tuxedo as James Bond.
Now the actor himself is putting the discussion to rest, and his answer is more definitive than ever.
The 53-year-old Elba says plainly that he was never in contention for the role, and that it has never really interested him.
According to IGN Nordic
Never in the Race
In an interview with People, Elba does not simply turn down the role. He corrects the very premise behind the speculation. “My name’s not getting thrown out, no way,” he says. “They’re going younger. And I wish them all the luck of the world. I can’t wait; it’s going to be amazing.”
He adds without hesitation: “I’m honestly not in the race ever. I wasn’t in the race in the first place.”
It is a remark that sends a clear signal to the fans who have spent more than 15 years hoping to see him as 007. The rumours first began circulating in 2012 and have resurfaced regularly ever since.
Already Too Old in 2016
Elba is no newcomer to this conversation. As far back as 2016, he said he felt “too old” for the role and described the scale of the rumours as “the wildest in the world.” Two years later, he simply answered “no” when asked directly about Bond.
In 2023, he told the podcast Smartless that being mentioned in that context was “a huge compliment.” However, he added that when the debate began to centre on race, he found “the whole thing disgusting and off-putting.”
The rumours flared up again when Craig officially left the role after No Time to Die in 2021. Now Elba appears ready to leave the entire discussion behind him.
Masters of the Universe Is His Focus
Instead, Elba has turned his attention to his new project, Masters of the Universe, in which he plays Duncan. “Masters of the Universe was my thing,” he tells People. “It was something that I watched a lot as a kid.”
He describes the role as an opportunity to put his own stamp on a character from his childhood, and it is clear that this is where his energy lies right now.
The search for the next Bond continues without him, with casting director Nina Gold at the helm, the same person who previously led recruitment for both Star Wars and Game of Thrones.
