The Next James Bond?

[revo]

Rumors are flying that the next Bond is Idris Elba! As a Bond fan since I was age 7 — my friend and I would rent old Bond flicks when we were 13-15 — I think this would be awesome.

If untrue, I would go for Henry Cavill as next up.

[johnnya24]

Cavill was born to play Bond ... but maybe they want to do something different? Daniel Craig was a diversion from the norm with more of a serious muscular post-Bourne style of action thriller ... Cavill looks like he'd be more of a traditional Bond.

[revo]

Cavill was born to play Bond ... but maybe they want to do something different? Daniel Craig was a diversion from the norm with more of a serious muscular post-Bourne style of action thriller ... Cavill looks like he'd be more of a traditional Bond.

Totally agree, if they want to go conventional, it would be Cavill. And now he's supposedly doing his own stunts, a la Tom Cruise.

But I believe they want to go unconventional. I know they were looking at a black Bond before signing Craig, and I think they got cold feet. But Elba would make a great Bond, and I don't care about his race.

And honestly, anyone saying "but Bond is white!" is pretty ignorant. Yeah, Fleming wrote him that way, but this was the 1950s, when no one would even fathom a black actor even in a minor role. So anyone opposed, get over it. He was written that way because ALL characters were written that way.

[cardboardbox]

Either of them would be cool. I never liked Craig and still dont.

[Mithrandir]

But what is the reason to have an African American (or any other race than white) play Bond?

[B-Fly]

But what is the reason to have an African American (or any other race than white) play Bond?

Because it's fun and interesting to tweak a formula/franchise, and why not? It's not a situation where there aren't enough roles in Hollywood for white males, lol.

[DMT]

But what is the reason to have an African American (or any other race than white) play Bond?

Because he's a great actor.

[Fresno Bob]

For a hint of how Cavil might play Bond, check out "The Man from UNCLE". My guess is that Cavil will take a more "Pierce Brosnan" approach vs the Daniel Craig physicality based personna

all that being said, 100% fine with Idris Alba

[Ken]

I'd love to see Elba in the role. Hell, having new personalities and acting styles in the James Bond role is part of the lore. There's a whole conversation about what Bond was better. That's sorta the point, right?

It is interesting to see the Elba/Bond conversation juxtaposed with the current outrage over Jack Whitehall's role as a gay character though.

[Mithrandir]

Because it's fun and interesting to tweak a formula/franchise, and why not? It's not a situation where there aren't enough roles in Hollywood for white males, lol.

I can see that for some people.

Your statement about enough roles for white actors seems a bit "affirmative actiony" (made up word).

For reference, I didn't like when the show 'Elementary' made Watson a female, but was fine that "M" became female. Maybe that's because "M" is a position and not an individual. I'm just weird!!"

[Ken]

But what is the reason to have an African American (or any other race than white) play Bond?

The bigger question is what reason is there *not* to have a specific race play a character? Why does his race even matter?

[B-Fly]

I can see that for some people.

Your statement about enough roles for white actors seems a bit "affirmative actiony" (made up word).

For reference, I didn't like when the show 'Elementary' made Watson a female, but was fine that "M" became female. I'm just weird!!

I've never viewed "affirmative action" as a bad thing, so even if that were part of the motivation (which I doubt - they want to make $$$), it wouldn't be a problem for me.

[B-Fly]

My daughter is holding out for an all-white revival of "Hamilton - An American Musical". Werk!

[Mithrandir]

The bigger question is what reason is there *not* to have a specific race play a character? Why does his race even matter?

Could Black Panther be played by a white guy? Should all movie characters be interchangeable when it comes to race and gender?

[B-Fly]

Could Black Panther be played by a white guy? Should all movie characters be interchangeable when it comes to race and gender?

No, Black Panther's entire story line clearly requires the character to be an African king trying to keep out would-be colonizers. Not so James Bond, an MI-6 licensed-to-kill agent with the British government.