Idris Elba as James Bond rumors emerge, rep says reports ‘made up’

After a few more movies, the iconic role of James Bond will need a new leading man. James Craig has carried it on for recent years. New reports have popped up suggesting that “Luther” actor Idris Elba will be the top choice for producer Barbara Broccoli. They’ve gone so far as to say Broccoli talked about having more diversity for the role and in a conversation with a director, Elba’s name came up. However, another report is refuting that speculation.

A story that was originally in The Daily Star claimed there was a conversation involving “Equalizer” director Antoine Fuqua and Barbara Broccoli. During that conversation, it was rumored that Broccoli said “it is time” for the role to go to a non-white actor and that would “happen eventually.” The Star’s report said Fuqua suggested actor Idris Elba to her as “a guy with a physically strong presence.” It’s not the first time that Broccoli has mentioned the possibility of giving the role a diverse star, so there were plenty of websites reporting on the rumor.

On Friday (Aug. 10) The Hollywood Reporter refuted those rumors after speaking with a rep for Fuqua. The rep said Fuqua and Broccoli never had such a conversation and that the other report was “all made up stuff.” THR said that Elba’s reps declined to comment but a “knowledgeable source” said the actor’s team didn’t know of “any overtures” involving Elba and the franchise.

Over the years, a number of actors have portrayed James Bond. In the earliest days, Sean Connery and Roger Moore rose to fame in the role. Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan also played the character with Roger Craig taking over in the most recent films. Craig is likely finished with the role after a few more movies. He started in 2006 with “Casino Royale.” Since then, he’s appeared in “Quantum of Solace,” “Skyfall,” and most recently 2015’s “Spectre.” The “Bond 25” film is currently in pre-production and scheduled for 2019.

Elba was born in England and will be 46 in September. The actor starred in 2015’s critically-acclaimed “Beasts of No Nation” for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Award and Film Independent Spirit Award. He has starred in the TV series Luther since 2010 and has also been featured in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Heimdall, a key character related to Thor. Elba briefly portrayed the character in the box office smash, “Avengers: Infinity War” this past summer.

He’s set to take on the role of the Hunchback of Notre Dame as his next project. Elba talked to the Press Association back in May about the role and joked about how he was a surprising choice for Quasimodo due to his good looks.

He called the new Hunchback interpretation “very, very different, and joked that portraying Quasimodo “scuppers my James Bond chances.”