Hollywood actor, Idris Elba has stated that it has always been an enormous honor for him to be considered for the renowned James Bond role.
Unfortunately, the controversy over his race has made him less enthusiastic about pursuing the opportunity.
Elba recently spoke with SmartLess in a recent interview about why he eventually stopped participating in the James Bond casting discussion because it grew divisive over race.
Elba did point out that while the majority of the world accepted the concept, there were some regions where the reaction was less enthusiastic.
The actor felt ashamed and discouraged since the hatred and contempt from these “corners” eventually poisoned the overall experience.
“The truth is, I was super complimented for a long time about this. I was like, ‘This is crazy! James Bond?’ We’re all actors, and we understand that role. It’s one of those coveted [parts]. Being asked to be James Bond was like, ‘Ok, you’ve sort of reached the pinnacle.’ That’s one of those things the whole world has a vote in.
“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.”
The James Bond film franchise’s producers are presently looking for a new 007, but they prefer a younger actor who will be able to develop the role over the coming years. But there’s a possibility there. The younger actors lack the skills necessary to play Bond!
According to producer Michael G. Wilson, they are seeking for a “thirty-something” actor to play James Bond. They tried going younger before Daniel Craig was cast in the part, but it didn’t work out. Debbie McWilliams, a longtime casting director for the Bond films, gave an explanation of why younger actors don’t typically play James Bond.
“When we started, it was a slightly different feel. We did look at a lot of younger actors, and I just don’t think they had the gravitas. They didn’t have the experience, they didn’t have the mental capacity to take it on, because it’s not just the part they’re taking on, it’s a massive responsibility. So we kind of scrubbed that idea and went back to the drawing board and started again.”
