So Idris Elba might be the next James Bond

[Lionsfan]

Didn't Pierce Brosnan have 2 movies on his contract when they dumped him? I'm not saying Craig is out, but do you think he has 2 more films left in him?

But Brosnan's last film bombed. Skyfall, on the other hand, has earned both critical and box office success. I doubt they'd dump Craig right after he made them millions.

I guess I should have worded that better. I don't think the studio is going to dump him now, rather that he's only going to make one more film.

I mean if we take a 3 year production, a fall release date, he'll be just shy of 48 months when the next film comes out. And I dunno, I just can't see them going for a 50 year old to be James Bond

I don't know why they'd be smug about it (ignoring the fact that it's stupid anyway), they'd still have been wrong when they thought of it. It'd just be useful now if he were to play him.

What do you mean they'd still be wrong when they thought of it? Up until Skyfall, hasn't it held solid?

 

[Daveman]

It's good in that Idris Elba is a fantastic actor and I could definitely see him pulling off the Bondness, though I admit a black Bond seems weird. I criticised Craig a shitload for being a rubbish Bond (my suggestion was always Clive Owen) but it took Skyfall to show me that he CAN do it assuming he doesn't get fucked by the actual movie. Conversely I can only see Elba pulling it off fantastically. As for an Asian Bond, it would depend on the actor, I personally don't know of any that could pull of the suave/badass combo like Elba. I mean ultimately the only limits are "British" and "Man" and then the rest is about character.

I think the real issue now with Bond casting is that none of the Bond girls are attractive any more and they're all absolutely pathetic whiny bitches. Casino Royale had Vesper who looked permanently on the verge of tears, and that with a quantity of eye make-up to shame KISS, Quantum of Solace had that completely forgettable one who gets easily threatened by a tiny frenchman and almost raped despite her having a gun on her and finally the girl Bond beds in Skyfall is a bloody Sex Slave. This is all in some stupid attempt to be bloody gritty or something, a characteristic so un-Bond it makes me want to punch someone.

 

[Athinira]

I think that for many fans, this would break the fiction.

This has nothing to do with Idris ability as an actor. It has to do with the requirements of the role. Some people - like in this thread - might totally be on board with the idea, but for many others it will be an instant turnoff.

In fact, it's no different than if i argued that the next James Bond should be a girl (we could call her Janine Bond?). It's just that certain roles has certain requirements.

Changing the gender of sideroles is far more easily acceptable. Making Felix Leiter black in the last couple of movies hasn't really sparked any problems. But the main character of the universe? Sorry, but i think that's a nogo.

 

[WanderingFool]

Oh God...

Dont get me wrong, I would have no problem with a black Bond (so long as it isnt a rapper or someone like that), but dear God... the bitching that would arise...

 

[teh_Canape]

It's pretty much hammered down he's a male.

well, there's that
and the James part of James Bond =P

 

[Commerford]

In fact, it's no different than if i argued that the next James Bond should be a girl (we could call her Janine Bond?). It's just that certain roles has certain requirements.

Actually it is very different. Changing the race of Bond would only have visual differences, you could keep the script and character interactions and relations entirely the same. I'd place a large bet that no where in any of the scripts or screen plays is Bond's race referred to (except bad guys maybe having a pop), but in a lot of places it would be claimed he is a man.

In regards to Elba's age, Moore was 58 when he retired from the role.

 

[Kargathia]

Random thing too, if you could cast a replacement to take over when Craig finishes, who would you cast?

Fassbender.

... end of discussion really. Idris Elba might make for a good Bond, Fassbender IS Bond, whatever name he goes by.

 

[verdant monkai]

So I have a few questions for you:
If Idris Elba actually does turn out to be the next Bond, how would you feel?
Do you think James Bond is a role that only white guys should play?
How would you feel about an asian James Bond?
Do you think there are certain roles that shouldn't be open to everyone? (certain races, certain genders, etc.)

answers:-

1. Not bothered as I am not really a fan of James Bond so even if they cast JB as an octopus it wouldn't affect me in any way.

2. Here's the thing. Yeah I think James Bond is whiteman's territory. I just don't like the idea of drastically changing a much loved character to pander to social demographics. There is a better way to do that, make a new story with a new character. Make Idris a sexy spy guy in his own adventure as "Richard Blocker" or something (preferably with a sensible name), this way we get a new story and a new Character rather than rehashes of old stuff.
Its like making Superman black WHY BOTHER?? When you could make another Superhero who is black? this way Superman fans don't get pissed off, and people who want more black super heroes (Me) will be happy.

3. Same thing again James Bond isn't Asian he is British. Think how good a spy story in Tokyo or Hong Kong would be!

4. No I dont think they should. I think most roles shouldn't be up for redesigns or re-imaginings. Just continue the characters story undisturbed and create new ones. I wouldn't be happy if they changed the genders or ethnicities of some of my favourite characters for no good reason.

Basically what I am saying is I don't like it when big important characters are drastically altered. Altering characters no one gives a shit about is just fine. Like when Nick Fury became Black because if he didn't the Avengers would have been an all white film, and for some reason that would offend people. I loved Samuel L.Jackson as Nick Fury HE MADE ME give a shit about Nick Fury. So sometimes redesigns can be great.

I notice that if my posts are low in controversial content then, no one is willing to talk condescending to me, and I have to get a boner somehow. So with that in mind: It would ruin James Bond if the actor was
A. French (because he would wear a stupid hat and have a thin moustache)
B. Canadian (because he would be coated in syrup and would say "EH" too much)
C. Welsh (because he would be too fat) I can make these jokes cos I'm Welsh

 

[Athinira]

How would it break the fiction though?

As far as the rebooted Craig continuity goes, how does James Bond being black no longer work, or make some of the things he's been through less plausible?

And making the character a woman is quite a bit different than changing his race.

Different in scale, not different in principle.

To use the arguments of Yahtzee, if you are going to make James Bond black (or a woman, or whatever), why even still call it James Bond? Why not call him "Captain British" and make a new franchise out of it?

It doesn't really take a rocket scientist to go back through the history of both videos and games and see that fans don't like it when you break the established character. People are already busy arguing which of the - still white - bond actors was best (the occasional "Noone can replace Sean Connery" still comes up).

And the thing is, actors knows this. Many actors have been denied roles in movies previously, not because they weren't good actors, but because they wouldn't be able to provide the character that the producers need. Now maybe the new producers are envisioning a new James Bond, but i don't think the fans will buy it. I'm not sure if i would personally mind or not, but then again I'm not a James Bond fan, i just happen to like the movies to a reasonable degree. I don't see a black actor playing James Bond for the same reason as someone mentioned that i can't see a white actor playing Shaft either.

Also, i don't see Idris - with all respect to his acting skills - provide all of the suave that James Bond has (regardless of who has played him nd their different attitudes). To quote Roger Ebert in his Quantum of Solace review: "James Bond is not an action hero! He is too good for that. He is an attitude. Violence for him is an annoyance. He exists for the foreplay and the cigarette."

Captcha: "captcha in the rye" - Now that one was certainly not expected. First it mentions it's own name in an act of shameless self-promotion, and then it can't spell "eye" right (perhaps because it got something in the eye!). Bastard !

 

[verdant monkai]

...I now really want to see a James Bond involving an octopus with a British accent.

Think of the fight scenes!

Quick help me think of an Octopus pun, that we can use to satirise that bit from the theme song..

Do you expect me to talk?
NO MR BOND! I EXPECT YOU TO DIE

 

[WanderingFool]

...I now really want to see a James Bond involving an octopus with a British accent.

Think of the fight scenes!

Quick help me think of an Octopus pun, that we can use to satirise that bit from the theme song..

Do you expect me to talk?
NO MR BOND! I EXPECT YOU TO DIE

*clears throat*

Do you expect me to talk?
NO MR BOND! I EXPECT YOU TO DYE!

Also, how weird would it be for the Bond girls?

 

[Megacherv]

Who said that?

Because, y'know, Craig has been signed on for two more movies. And if, by chance, they get each of those out in two years after the previous one, Elba will be 44 when the role is vacated. Then, some time in pre-production, he'll be 45 by the time filming starts. It's not really a matter of skin color; it's about age. Why sign someone only four years younger than the last guy?

Seriously, it's not even a rumor at this point -- unless you have new information I don't -- because they're not talking about that yet.

Elba would be fine if he started now, but that's not happening.
Bond can be played by whatever race, being a fictional character and whatnot.
Bond can't be a woman. Some characters can't be of different genders. Race shouldn't be a factor in the vast majority of cases for fictional characters (I say this because I know someone will bring up a case where it would matter).

Well, to be fair, how old did Roger Moore look when he played Bond...

Also, I've heard this elsewhere, and used Idris Elba as Heimdall as an example as to why it wouldn't be a bad idea (which my friend thought it was), but I was a bit rusty and didn't realise I was on about Idris Elba (I didn't know he played Tjor, I just remember the controversy surrounding it all)

 

[verdant monkai]

*clears throat*

Do you expect me to talk?
NO MR BOND! I EXPECT YOU TO DYE!

Also, how weird would it be for the Bond girls?

perfection.................

Bestiality, British accent, tentacle, suckers, whipping (with tentacles) there is no sick fetish this gorgeous new Bond cannot bring to the silver screen. He is loved by all!... accept for PETA that is.

 

[Marter]

Well, to be fair, how old did Roger Moore look when he played Bond...

Also, I've heard this elsewhere, and used Idris Elba as Heimdall as an example as to why it wouldn't be a bad idea (which my friend thought it was), but I was a bit rusty and didn't realise I was on about Idris Elba (I didn't know he played Tjor, I just remember the controversy surrounding it all)

Moore is, thus far, the exception to the rule. He is the only Bond actor to break the age of 50.

Why take a chance on someone who is 44 at the youngest when Craig's done, when you could get someone in their mid-30s who could take the role for a longer time.

That is just based on age, however. There are obviously other factors.

 

[axlryder]

Ballsy move on the studios part if they go through with it, or perhaps it would be more calculated than I'm giving them credit for. I'm not a big bond fan myself so they could probably get just about anybody to play him and I wouldn't have much to say about it.

 

[deathninja]

I though "James Bond" was just the pseudonym successive 007 agents took.

No reason there shouldn't be a black Bond.