So Idris Elba might be the next James Bond

[PhiMed]

I don't know why that just double-posted.

 

[Spade Lead]

If I recall correctly, Bond is described in the book as having blue eyes. I'm pretty sure that means he is White.

True.

Looks
Fleming compares Bond's appearance to Hoagy Carmichael.

Facially, Bond resembles the composer, singer and actor Hoagy Carmichael. In Casino Royale Vesper Lynd remarks, "Bond reminds me rather of Hoagy Carmichael, but there is something cold and ruthless." Likewise, in Moonraker, Special Branch Officer Gala Brand thinks that Bond is "certainly good-looking ... Rather like Hoagy Carmichael in a way. That black hair falling down over the right eyebrow. Much the same bones. But there was something a bit cruel in the mouth, and the eyes were cold." Others, such as journalist Ben Macintyre, identify aspects of Fleming's own looks in his description of Bond. General references in the novels describe Bond as having "dark, rather cruel good looks".

In the novels (notably From Russia, with Love), Bond's physical description has generally been consistent: slim build; a three-inch long, thin vertical scar on his right cheek; blue-grey eyes; a "cruel" mouth; short, black hair, a comma of which falls on his forehead. Physically he is described as 183 centimetres (6 feet) in height and 76 kilograms (167 lb) in weight. After Casino Royale, Bond also had the faint scar of the Russian cyrillic letter "Ш" (SH) (for Shpion: "Spy") on the back of one of his hands, carved by a SMERSH agent.

 

[Icehearted]

This came up ion IMDB once, and someone said Taye Diggs, to which I remember being intrigued. I've got no issue with a black bond, I honestly have no issue with it either way as race generally makes no difference to me at all (helps being black and white in this case). I've been a bond fan since I was a kid, so for me it's all about execution. I freakin' love Craig's Bond, he's smooth, masochistic, ruthless, and sharp. Everything I loved about Connery's Bond, but lacking in the smart-ass angle by comparison. I'd be really sorry to see Craig lose the role anytime soon, the new direction really has helped fix the damage Brosnan did to the series (I don't exclusively blame him, but as a Bond he brought things down considerably).

That said, Prometheus was a shit shitty movie, laughably awful in every possible way... except visually, in which case it was gorgeous. Elba didn't impress me at all in that shit-fest, not that anyone really could considering how badly executed that movie was, though I will give Michael Fassbender props. The script was shit, but he was the most watchable character in the entire gawd-awful shitty mess. Based on what little I've seen of him, and mostly in this, I imagine he'd be as passable a Bond as Johnny Knoxville or Mick Jagger.

Taye Diggs is at least a very suave man, handsome, he's got a good presence on screen and I think if anyone could pull it off other than Craig it could be him. Not entirely sure, I wasn't about Craig, but certainly more plausible.

 

[rbstewart7263]

long as he can pull a british accent and makes him feel like bond and not every trite hero on bet network(which I know edris wouldnt do hes far too talented) Than its cool.

Skyfall was boring for me actually. loved casino royale though.

And while were at it Alex Cross? sorry go back to being madea.lol

 

[MetalMagpie]

I think I could cope with Bond being black, but I'd still be a little disappointed. One of my favourite things about the whole Bond character is his connection with that very romanticised image of the old-school British elite, populated entirely by white men sipping whiskey as they reminisce over their days at Cambridge together. A black Bond would necessarily be a more modern Bond, which is a shame.

But a female Bond would seem to be entirely missing the point of the character. Bond is a knowing combination of male stereotypes, which is what makes him so wonderfully fun and straightforward. We always know how Bond will react in any given situation. But most of his traits are not stereotypes when applied to a woman. So the choice would be between having a female Bond who acts just like the male Bond (which would be in severe danger of seeming like either a parody or a poster for extreme feminism) or a female Bond made up of female stereotypes instead (more of a femme fatale).

 

[WolfThomas]

So, acting as the best, most murderific agent of the secret service of the country that stood as the sterling example of the epitome of European Imperialism for more than a century wouldn't be a "racial" role?

Really?

No not really. I feel that's over thinking it. Bond is British that's about it.

long as he can pull a british accent and makes him feel like bond and not every trite hero on bet network(which I know edris wouldnt do hes far too talented) Than its cool.

As he is English that should be fine. See Luther.

 

[IckleMissMayhem]

Doesn't bother me at all that there could be a black bond, in fact i'm more pissed about the new Quartermaster.

Bond summed it up for me. I'm glad they didn't have John Cleese again, but... really?! Head of a Department in MI6, one would think you'd have to be a little older than Ben Whislaw.

OT - Keep Craig as Bond. I think the next Bond film will be interesting enough

Spoiler

what with Bond having a new M he can't just walk all over

without changing actors.

 

[Sexual Harassment Panda]

He was in the wire, which makes him officially qualified to be in anything.

Stringer Bell as James Bond, and McNulty as whatever global terrorist they invent to be the baddy. I'd watch it.

 

[Cyrus Hanley]

If Idris Elba actually does turn out to be the next Bond, how would you feel?

Intrigued.

Do you think James Bond is a role that only white guys should play?

No.

How would you feel about an asian James Bond?

My first thought was an action-comedy starring Jackie Chan.

I dunno how I would feel about Asian James Bond. I've never thought about something like that.

Do you think there are certain roles that shouldn't be open to everyone? (certain races, certain genders, etc.)

It depends, I think.

If race or gender is a significant part of the character or their backstory (like Dr. No I guess, but then he was played by a white guy LOL) then they shouldn't be rewritten. Unless if it's a loose adaptation like James Bond set in the modern day, then I think there's a lot more room for flexibility.

And if it's an actor playing a character of another race or gender I just hope they can pull it off convincingly for the movie.

EDIT: To clarify, that last comment doesn't apply to the idea of Idris Elba as James Bond, but more like Johnny Depp as Tonto in The Lone Ranger.

 

[SpectacularWebHead]

I've always had a theory about James Bond. There isn't any one man named James Bond. When you attain the rank of 00, the government asigns you a number AND A NAME. James Bond is simply the pseudonym attached to 007. Every 006 might be called Jack Branley, every 009 John Birch, and so on. It would also explain why you can have such different actors playing james bond. He isn't one man, he is simply a name and a number. And by that logic, Idris Elba as James Bond works fine.

(I know the books would probably not conscibe to this theory, and it's not official or even a rumour in any way, but I think It would A: make sense and B: be pretty cool)

 

[ninjaRiv]

I'm on the side of "White actors for white characters." Now hear me out. Idris was fantastic in Thor and Jackson is a great Fury but those characters were originally white. And it's nothing to do with racism. It SHOULD be the same as telling a woman they can't play Superman because of their gender, telling a dwarf he can't play the tallest man in the world or just telling someone they can't play a character because they don't have the right nose or something. It should be just... One of those things! A simple requirement for playing an established character.

Now many people say it's OK for black people to play white characters but not the other way around and that's BS.

First, let me say I agreed with the majority of your post except for this segment. The problem with the first is that your Analogies don't exactly apply. SuperMAN shouldn't be a woman? Makes sense, since there is an intrinsic value that Superman holds (being a man) that making the character a woman would actively counter-act. HOWEVER, there's nothing intrinsically CAUCASIAN about the character of James Bond, only BRITISH! Last time I checked, black people HAVE actually been birthed within the borders of GB.

Even to say "oh, Bond's backstory puts him in a Scottish orphanage" holds little weight: I'm pretty sure if a resident parents who just happened to be black (just like Craig's parents HAPPENED to be white) died in a Scottish neighborhood, they wouldn't ship him off just because he's black: they'd put the kid in a Scottish orphanage(he's not a special needs patient that Scotland can't handle, his skin is darker!).

Again, not arguing whether or not Elba should be Bond or not. Only illuminating how your arguments are flawed =

The 2nd part is just simple debunking. Trust me, it goes both ways. For example, no black actress has EVER played the Cleopatra in a main-stream "Big Studio" production. First it was Claudine Colbert, Then Liz Taylor, Then a Chilean actress (forget her name). Even now, in 2000 and freakin' 12. Whose gonna play Cleo ? Zoey Zaldana? Violet Davis? Taraji P. Henson? Halle Berry?

Nope. Angelina Jolie.

But, playing the victim is tacky, so lets both stop doing it...

My analogies were just basics. Would you have a woman play Superman or Batman? If so, why? My point was that a casting director would say no simply because that doesn't fit the part. This isn't to say women can't play male parts, obviously. There have been some fantastic male roles played by women. But it's a casual thing, like saying "Oh, you don't fit the part because of this and this" and nobody says a thing except "oh, yeah, that's fair."

I haven't read the novels but I did think he was described as being white. I guess he's supposed to be the symbol of classic middle class white Brits? Doesn't matter, really. Like I said, Elba would play the part well I just don't see how a race change is needed.

I completely agree that ti cuts both ways and the Cleopatra thing is a very good example. There are more than enough white roles for white actors.

I mean, there are exceptions, of course. Looking at women playing men (mentioned earlier) and the Korean thing in Cloud Atlas.

Thinking about, these race and gender changes only really work if they have a genuine purpose.. Is casting Elba as Bond doing anything? Really? He's easily one of the best actors working right now but there are plenty of white people with just as much skill who would make a good fit. So, I guess whenever this happens you need to ask "what purpose does this serve." No reason a Hollywood writer couldn't write a fantastic action hero and cast Elba, right? They've been doing the same thing for white actors for years.

Also, side note. Are the little square ads under the reply box pissing anyone else off by jumping up and covering a quarter of the box? It is literally jumping out of its space and getting in the way.

 

[Cyrus Hanley]

Although Bond is a book adaptation I personally have no knowledge of the Bond books, I don't know how he's described. I think any adaptation should be visually accurate.

In the books he's described as looking like Hoagy Carmichael.

Wouldn't have a problem with it, although they'll be faced with a reboot again. Bit of a stretch to say that a black guy grew up in the Scotland wilderness as a boy in the 70s.

Hahaha my first thought of that was this.

http://www.teamfortress.com/war/demo/02.htm

I've always had a theory about James Bond. There isn't any one man named James Bond. When you attain the rank of 00, the government asigns you a number AND A NAME. James Bond is simply the pseudonym attached to 007. Every 006 might be called Jack Branley, every 009 John Birch, and so on. It would also explain why you can have such different actors playing james bond. He isn't one man, he is simply a name and a number. And by that logic, Idris Elba as James Bond works fine.

(I know the books would probably not conscibe to this theory, and it's not official or even a rumour in any way, but I think It would A: make sense and B: be pretty cool)

Yeah that theory's been debunked.

[http://www.freeimagehosting.net/m1a9q]

Apparently the world is enough.

 

[SquidVicious]

I remember watching The Wire back in like... 2004 or 2005 and thinking that Idris Elba would make a great Bond, and considering I subscribe to the theory that 007 and James Bond are just code names used by various agents over the years, I think a black Bond could work. He's got the sex appeal, the build, the style, and the acting chops so I really see no reason why this shouldn't happen.