Apparently Idris Elba is ‘a bit too street’ to be the next James Bond
Idris Elba is “too street” to play James Bond? Huh?
The Daily Mail recently released a profile on novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz. It’s a rich, finely-crafted piece that dives into the psyche of the blunt and talented artist. And while much of the piece revolves around how his life has led him to the point of Ian Flemming’s estate asking Horowitz to pen a new James Bond novel, one snippet is currently burning a white-hot hole through the Internet: Horowitz’s opinion on the next actor to portray Bond on camera.
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When discussing who should take over for Daniel Craig, Horowitz stated that he believes Idris Elba is, “a bit too street” to be the next James Bond.
"“Idris Elba is a terrific actor, but I can think of other black actors who would do it better. For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It’s not a colour issue. I think he is probably a bit too “street” for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.”"
It’s easy to see why the Internet took this piece and ran with it. Too street – coded language, veiled racism, a knock against a beloved actor, yada yada yada. What a perfectly crafted bit for the overreaction police to drum up their latest bit of manufactured indignation.
In fairness to Horowitz, the author of the piece notes that he claimed Adrian Lester – a black actor of Hustle fame – would be better suited to play Bond. It really wasn’t about “colour.”
Still, though, Elba not being suave enough to play Bond? Take that nonsense elsewhere, kind sir.
Was he scary as hell as Stringer Bell in The Wire? Damn right.
He’s equally as rich a character in Luther, was a hard-ass in his arc on The Office, and is equally as BAMF in the Thor movies, Pacific Rim and pretty much everywhere else he appears.
It’s all part of the game – what’s expected for roles he selects.
The guy can play things up; he can act close to the vest. He can be gritty; he can be reserved. As far as being suave, well, he did run a full ad campaign with Jaguar. Pretty sure they’re not just pulling any hoodlum from The Pit.
Beyond that, Horowitz’s argument stands on uneven ground. He likes Craig as Bond, because the actor brought, “A total return to the gritty seriousness of it.”
Elba couldn’t be the same?
Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. Horowitz will likely be taken to the cleaner by people who failed to read his entire profile. The critics aren’t wrong to question his disapproval of Elba, but they’re missing the whole scope of why Horowitz is misguided. His statement wasn’t racist; it was ignorant of the fact that Elba carries the emotional gravitas and natural charm to pull of James Bond perfectly.