Though the chaos that arose from The Interview has been the main discussion amidst the Sony hacking scandal, another alleged leaked email had also created a global debate on a different subject. This debate questions the requirements to play James Bond. Rumor has it that Idris Elba is in the running for the next James Bond, and while many fans are thrilled at the prospect, others have played the race card, insisting that there is no way Elba fits the role.
The ever-so-classy, and equally funny Elba ignored all of the critics sending negative messages in response to the rumor, and instead tweeted out a thank you to all of his fans.
The British actor takes a goofy selfie and thanks all his fans for the compliment, since the main requirement to play James Bond, is that he has to be handsome. While the majority of fans have welcomed the idea of Elba playing the role of the famous spy, some have been quite angry by this suggestion.
The critical response has been based on Elba’s race, either comments that are completely racist, or try to hold some semblance of reason by citing the original author of James Bond, Ian Fleming. Recently, radio show host, Rush Limbaugh devoted a good chunk of his show to whine about the rumor that Elba would play bond. He said:
""James Bond is a total concept put together by Ian Fleming. He was white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is, was. But now [they are] suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton, rather than a white from Scotland.But that’s not who James Bond is, and I know it’s racist to probably point this out."
Whether or not you agree with Limbaugh, Idris Elba has the capability of playing an incredible James Bond. Best known for his portrayal of the aspiring businessman and drug lord, Russell "Stringer" Bell in critically-acclaimed TV series, The Wire as well as his role as Detective John Luther on the BBC series, Luther, Elba has already played roles that would set him up to be a badass Bond. He’s been nominated for three Golden Globes (which he won one for Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film) and earned four Primetime Emmy nominations. He’s beyond qualified, and also incredibly handsome.
But, this isn’t the first time that a rumor has circulated about Elba potentially playing 007, and last time it did, in 2011, he told NPR that while he would consider it, he has some reservations. The interview touched a Elba’s acting in the U.S. vs. the UK. He discussed how he wanted to play roles, not "black roles". So in response to the Bond rumor, he responded:
"I just don't want to be the black James Bond. Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond, so if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."
So we can’t be sure if Elba would accept the role if offered, but he definitely is flattered by the suggestion and all his fans backing the idea of seeing him play the famous British spy. As for the current Bond played by Daniel Craig, we will see him return to theaters on November 6, 2015 in the 24th James Bond movie, Spectre.
