Idris Elba has officially ruled himself out of being the following James Bond.
The actor’s name has crept up in conversations about who the following Martini-sipping undercover agent could be.
But contrary to the rumors, it seems as if spy fans won’t be seeing Elba transform into 007 as he’s decided to shift his focus onto his starring role in BBC’s “Luther.”
“We’ve been working on the TV show for about 10 years and so the natural ambition is to take it to the large screen, and so we’re here with the primary movie,” the 50-year-old said.
“You understand, loads of people discuss one other character that begins with ‘J’ and ends with ‘B’ but I’m not going to be that guy. I’m going to be John Luther. That’s who I’m.”
Elba is ready to star in “Luther: The Fallen Sun” set for release on Feb. 24. It’s the follow-up to the hit BBC series “Luther” which ran from 2010-2019 and starred Elba as tortured cop John Luther.
In 2012, he won a Golden Globe for “Best Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture” for his role.
This implies the seek for the following Bond has been narrowed down yet again.
After Daniel Craig stepped down from the role following his final Bond film “No Time to Die,” speculation has been rife concerning the next actor to take over the reins.
Last yr, producer Michael G. Wilson revealed the age of the actor who will suit up for the following film.
“We’ve tried taking a look at younger people prior to now,” Wilson said at a Bond event on the British Film Institute on Friday, based on Deadline. “But trying to visualise it doesn’t work.”
Craig, who took over as Bond from Pierce Brosnan in 2006, was 38 years old, and went on to look in 4 007 movies in total.
“Remember, Bond’s already a veteran,” Wilson said. “He’s had some experience. He’s a one who has been through the wars, so to talk. He’s probably been within the SAS or something. He isn’t some kid out of highschool that you may herald and begin off. That’s why it really works for a thirty-something.”
The oldest Bond was Roger Moore, who was 58 years old in “A View To A Kill,” his seventh and final outing as 007.