‘The idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting because it became about race’: Idris Elba speaks on the double-edged sword of 007

We still don’t know who the new James Bond will be, but one thing looks pretty certain, Luther star Idris Elba is out of the race.

The actor has frequently shot down rumors regarding his casting as Bond. During a talk on the Smartless podcast, the star described what turned him off of the role. Sadly, it’s all down to the racist reaction of a vocal minority that ruined his moment, with Elba speaking candidly on how the potential casting made him feel.

“The truth is, I was super complimented for a long time about this. I was like, ‘This is crazy!’ Because James Bond… We’re all actors and we understand that role. It’s one of those coveted [roles]. Being asked to be James Bond was like, ‘Okay, you’ve sort of reached the pinnacle.’”

That’s pretty much the reaction you’d expect. The role is legendary, and all who have taken the mantle of Bond have gone on to be remembered in the mainstream. Except maybe George Lazenby, but that’s not his fault; he had a tough act to follow after Sean Connery pretty much defined the character onscreen. Because of that, he had to deal with a vocal group of dissenters who simply dislike change.

Of course, it’s a completely different situation for Elba; while he too had to face the wrath of a group who hate change, these people are straight-up racist. Many embraced the idea of Elba taking up the mantle, there were those who were only interested in seeing a white man playing Bond. Unfortunately, they were able to cause enough of a fuss to ruin any excitement the actor had for the role.

“Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world except from some corners, which we will not talk about, were really happy about the idea that I could be considered. Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting because it became about race. It became about nonsense, and I got the brunt of it.”

For some reason, certain people are unable to get their head around the idea that Bond doesn’t necessarily have to be white. There is nothing about the character that means he cannot be played by someone of literally any other race. Elba has the acting chops to be an action hero, as we’ve seen him serve in The Suicide Squad and Pacific Rim. On top of that, he possesses the suave coolness needed for Bond.

It’s one of the greatest missed opportunities, ruined by a minority who are mentally trapped in the 60s. But, hey, judging by how Luther: The Fallen Sun ended, it looks like he’ll rival Bond as the next best British spy.