British actor Sir Idris Elba said James Bond should not be made “woke” as speculation continues over who will become the next 007.
Elba told GQ that Bond “was written how he was written for a reason.” He said he felt complimented by years of links to the role but was “never in the race.”
The actor said some international markets may not accept a Black African male actor playing Bond. He added that the franchise should stay focused on escapism.
Elba is currently starring as Man-at-Arms in “Masters of the Universe.” He joked that the 1980s cartoon character looked nothing like him.
The search for the next James Bond officially began last month after years of speculation over Daniel Craig’s replacement. Amazon said it would share more news with 007 fans when the time is right.
The next Bond film will be directed by “Dune” filmmaker Denis Villeneuve and written by “Peaky Blinders” creator Steven Knight.
Read: Denis Villeneuve to Begin Work on New James Bond Film in 2027
Variety reported that casting director Nina Gold is leading the search. Rumoured contenders include Callum Turner, Henry Cavill and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.
