Idris Elba considered for James Bond

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Comments

  • doubleoegodoubleoego #LightWork
    Posts: 11,139
    To be honest I haven't seen Elba really campaigning for the role, I've only seen him speak about it when other people bring it up. At the end of the day it's free publicity for him which in all fairness to him he'll ride 'till the cows come home. He knows he won't be Bond but what I think needs to be understood is, the idea of a black Bond is something that was never really considered a possibility but when an individual has been singled out and recognised by masses of people and he media as such a worthy candidate for a role; a supremely iconic role, I'm sure it's an overwhelming feeling.
  • edited December 2014 Posts: 11,425
    I think Elba is just milking the publicity without much expectation of ever being cast. However, I think the opportunity is there in the future for a ack Bond.

    There used to be signs outside guest houses in London in the 50s and 60s reading 'No Irish, no blacks, no dogs'. Well, we may never see a canine Bond, but we've had an Irishman and I see no reason why we shouldn't have a black Bond either.
  • bondjamesbondjames You were expecting someone else?
    edited December 2014 Posts: 23,883
    Getafix wrote: »
    I think Elba is just milking the publicity without much expectation of ever being cast. However, I think the opportunity is there in the future for a ack Bond.

    There used to be signs outside guest houses in London in the 50s and 60s reading 'No Irish, no blacks, no dogs'. Well, we may never see a canine Bond, but we've had an Irishman and I see no reason why we shouldn't have a black Bond either.

    Wow! What a long way we've come.......and thank goodness!
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    Getafix wrote: »
    Well, we may never see a canine Bond.

    Drats! Sorry James Hound. ;)
    latest?cb=20110818004956

  • Posts: 43
    smitty wrote: »
    If EON wants to keep Craig, and I can't see Craig throwing over another $20m salary so easily, they better step up and nip this flood of press caused by Pascal's leak, or they will lose control of their casting to an actor you can bet they do not want to work with for 10 years.

    I think this is spot on. No doubt there is a campaign on for Elba. He is becoming the Bond in waiting much like Piece was for many years. Some have naively stated that studio's heads don't pick actors for roles. Think again, one of the reasons screen tests are done is to run by the powers that be.
  • Posts: 11,425
    As someone said earlier, it was a studio suit who decided EON had to replace Tim with Pierce.
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    I thought Dalton left on his own choice.
  • edited December 2014 Posts: 11,189
    I kind of get the feeling with Dalton it was a mutual thing.
  • Posts: 7,653
    Murdock wrote: »
    I thought Dalton left on his own choice.

    LTK did not do that great in the US which was at the time a major market and in itself was important enough to be heard on their own merits. The Opening weekend of Batman was more than LTK did in the US. So I am sure that the suits wanted Dalton out and Brosnan in.
    But Cubby himself was a phenomenal person and would probably have secured Dalton a third if a certain lawsuit did not stop the franchise for some years.
    Which made it probably easier for all concerned to walk away, step in and reach a mutual agreement.
  • edited December 2014 Posts: 11,425
    I think EON wanted Dalton but the perilous state of the series after LTK and the lawsuit, plus the studio's desire for him to replaced by Pierce sealed his fate.

    The irony of course, as with OHMSS, is that many fans now regard LTK as amongs the best in the series.
  • edited December 2014 Posts: 5,767
    Getafix wrote: »
    The irony of course, as with OHMSS, is that many fans now regard LTK as amongs the best in the series.
    Even more ironic is that Dalton was a fierce actor, as opposed to both Lazenby and Pierce. And Dalton already did what Craig several years on did so successfully. It´s a shame really that the time didn´t seem to be right when Dalton did what he did. Just thinking about it now makes me long for more Dalton Bond films.

  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    To those who say 'changing Bond's skin colour is no different to changing his hair colour or eye colour and doesn't change his fundamental character' : but it does change his effectiveness to do his job.

    Now before the tsunami of cries of 'racist' washes me away let me explain.

    Like it or not, the world we live in is not just multicultural London with its 'diversity and inclusivity' constantly rammed down your throat like you are a Strasbourg goose.

    A lot of the world is still 50 years behind and is still openly racist.

    Eastern Europe and particularly Russia would become off limits for BlackBond for the simple fact a black face still stands out and is noticed.

    A bog standard mission to fly to Murmansk, go to a random apartment block and shoot the double agent in flat 8 all without anyone noticing him becomes impossible for BlackBond because everyone at the train station, in the street and on the stairs will spot him as being out of place - even if he did go to Eton and Oxbridge and his Russian is perfect.

    Personally my favourite Bondian locations are the ex Cold War heartlands. With BlackBond every seedy back street casino or bar he walks into in Warsaw, Belgrade or St Petersburg would be like the scene when Rog walks into the Fillet of Soul.

    Unless we restrict BlackBond's beat to exclusively the West Indies, Africa and multicultural cities in the US and Western Europe he sticks out like a sore thumb wherever he goes and that changes his fundamental operational effectiveness and the essence of the secret agent whom Fleming described as 'the man who is a silhouette'.

  • 4EverBonded4EverBonded the Ballrooms of Mars
    edited December 2014 Posts: 12,480
    Oh goodness, how interesting these posts continue. Bond stopped being a "secret" agent decades ago. Truly. :) Even before DAF, I think.

    And as for "in a lot of the world" ... well, in plenty of places, sadly, women are not allowed to dress as they please or hold jobs or own property, who they may marry, or have a say in who sexually assaults them. So should the women in Bond's world be depicted so freely and with liberties? It won't go over well in several areas of the world ...
  • MurdockMurdock The minus world
    Posts: 16,351
    Yes but Craig's Bond has actually attempted being a secret agent. Remember in Skyfall where he wore a Limo Driver hat and sunglasses in the Shanghai hotel? ;)
  • TheWizardOfIceTheWizardOfIce 'One of the Internet's more toxic individuals'
    Posts: 9,117
    Murdock wrote: »
    Yes but Craig's Bond has actually attempted being a secret agent. Remember in Skyfall where he wore a Limo Driver hat and sunglasses in the Shanghai hotel? ;)

    And he blended right in. Not obtrusive in the slightest!!
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    Posts: 24,183
    DarthDimi wrote: »
    Perhaps we can agree that we've had our fill of the ever returning Black-Bond discussion for this season? ;-)

    This was the friendly request, and totally ignored.

    So, since apparently more words are needed:
    We have had Black Bond discussions in the past and they always went sour pretty fast.
    We have had our fun once again but the multiposting and racism accusations - because some of you can't discuss black Bond without bringing racism into it - must stop.

    Thank you.


  • Posts: 15,123
    aspie wrote: »
    smitty wrote: »
    If EON wants to keep Craig, and I can't see Craig throwing over another $20m salary so easily, they better step up and nip this flood of press caused by Pascal's leak, or they will lose control of their casting to an actor you can bet they do not want to work with for 10 years.

    I think this is spot on. No doubt there is a campaign on for Elba. He is becoming the Bond in waiting much like Piece was for many years. Some have naively stated that studio's heads don't pick actors for roles. Think again, one of the reasons screen tests are done is to run by the powers that be.

    Is he now? At his age, it is getting unlikely: Bond is not the papacy, you don't have a new Bond pushing 50. And judging by his attitude, he is getting far from the role he seems to think he is so perfect for.
  • Posts: 15,123
    If what Smitty is saying is true, the more I am hearing from Elba, the more I'm beginning to think he sounds a bit of a dick, and I'm really glad he isn't Bond. Shame really, because he comes across on screen as a bit of a cool dude, but it sounds like his off screen persona doesn't match this.

    And no, this particular opinion isn't because he is black.

    Same here. In fact, Idris Elba disappoints me sorely.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited December 2014 Posts: 24,183
    Right, we can take a hint.
    After my post, a triple one.
    Locked for obvious reasons.
This discussion has been closed.