Idris Elba: Too Busy for James Bond?

Silly season is heating up. As speculation swirls around Tom Hardy being cast as the next James Bond, some media outlets are now suggesting that Idris Elba is all but out of contention for the role of 007.

Accordingly, Elba has signed on for another season of Luther, the hit BBC series. The schedule for the show makes playing Bond difficult–if not impossible–as EON Productions continues work on Bond 25. It is worth noting, however, that Daniel Craig is still James Bond, until an official statement is made proving otherwise.

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Elba’s name has been bounced around a lot, since Daniel Craig’s (rather misinterpreted) statement about preferring to slash his wrists than play Bond again. For what it is worth, The Sun put Elba’s odds of playing Bond at 7-1.

In recent years, Elba has become something of a hot commodity, with turns in Beasts of No Nation, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Star Trek Beyond. He has also lent his vocal talents to the Disney animated films Zootopia, The Jungle Book, and Finding Dory. His latest films, The Dark Tower (co-starring Matthew McConaughey) and The Mountain Between Us (co-starring Kate Winslet) are both out later this year.

In 2016, Elba addressed reports that he would be the next James Bond, telling E! News:

"“I mean, look, I’ve said it a million of times: It’s a great character and it’s an honor to be asked, but it is just a rumor.”"

As always, check back with eyeonbond.com and @eyeonbond for updates.