James Bond is an iconic figure embedded in the very culture of society itself. The name exemplifies cool and sophisticated. Created in 1953 by Ian Fleming, the character has been around for almost sixty years and is now as popular as ever. Recently celebrating his fiftieth anniversary in film with the twenty-third Bond film Skyfall, James Bond has reached a level of popularity that seems to know no bounds.
Since the first Bond film in 1962, white male British actors have obviously portrayed the suave MI6 spy; most notably Sean Connery, who was the first and somewhat most revered. Recently, Daniel Craig has taken the mantle. Craig, who’s already appeared in three Bond films, is contracted to star in at least two more, though at some point he will give up his license to kill. When Craig was originally cast as Bond, audiences and critics were skeptical of the fact that he was “blonde” and didn’t match Fleming’s original description of the character of a black haired blue eyed white male. However, once viewers saw Casino Royale in 2006, the skepticism dwindled. Craig was outstanding as the secret service spy. However, seeing as how his time as Bond will likely end this decade, Eon Productions, the production company behind every Bond film in history, is already seeking a replacement.
Rumoured actors up for the role have been regularly cited; Tom Hardy, Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Newly, a name has come up that has sparked a lot of attention. Idris Elba, a black British actor, has been revealed to have met with Eon Productions about possibly taking over the role. It’s obvious to see why this would garner such attention.
Bond is and always has been a suave, good-looking, and charming white British male. His been portrayed by actors that accurately fit this description. Bond is considered the quintessential attractive and seemingly perfect male. Veering away from what society and fans have been used to would seem troubling; especially when it comes to race. There are two aspects to consider here: the topic of race and the character and the aspect of the cinematic factor, the acting. Let’s first address the cinematic influence.
Idris Elba is one of the most popular, well-rounded, and talented actors present today. His work speaks for itself. Appearing in films such as RocknRolla, Thor, Prometheus, and Takers, Elba is a hot commodity in Hollywood. Additionally, he’s widely known for his work on the crime procedural The Wire as well. However, most remarkably his work on the BBC crime drama Luther has garnered his supreme praise and admiration. Overall he’s an extremely brilliant actor. Elba is British and has expressed interest in portraying James Bond. Elba has formerly specified that he’d be “honored to play the part if it comes my way.” There’s no doubt he could portray Bond. He fits all of the characteristics. He’s brooding, tall, suave, charming, and urbane. He is the prototypical cool Brit. Especially regarding his role on Luther, he could bring a force to the role of Bond that can be seen on the show; a powerful dynamism. With all this talent there’s still that one matter going through everyone’s minds: race.
Idris Elba is a black man clear as day. I too, the author of this article am black. I believe I have no bias towards this topic. I can see the positives and negatives of the situation. Society is used to what it’s been exposed to for a long time. For example, Superman is an all-American Caucasian farm boy form Kansas. Batman is a brooding white playboy billionaire. There are many examples of fictional figures in culture who are solely and can only be a certain race. There was a time when Will Smith was offered the role of Superman and Captain America. He turned it down feeling that if the characters were portrayed by him it would ruin the history and allure of the characters. I can somehow see where he was coming from. However, where we are as a society and the time that we are in, with a black President, I feel that change is welcoming; especially in the realm of cinema.
Elba isn’t one of those black actors who shy away from taking part in black cinema, even though he is successful in what I’d call “White Hollywood”. I’m not being biased but that’s how it is. There is a difference. He’s been in such black films as Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, This Christmas, and Obsessed. He’s not foreign to such movies. Elba isn’t blind to such racial skepticism either. When taking the role of Heimdall in Thor, there was outrage that there would be a “black” god in a film. The gods in Thor are of Norse mythology, which is native to such countries as Scandinavia. It’s understandable why some people would feel some type of way about this. But, the producers and contributors stated that the gods in the film are also of a cosmic variety and “alien”. They’re not necessarily “white” or “Caucasian” but of all races. For example, one of Thor’s friends in the film is an Asian deity. Elba is used to this. His remarks to the Heimdall situation were pretty much in the realm if finding it all ridiculous.
If, Elba portrayed Bond, it could change Hollywood. The fact that the production company meeting with Elba, confirms that they have no problem displaying something a little different. If they have no problem, then why should society? We are at a time where a black man holds the most powerful position in the world. If we can be accustomed to that then why not to a black man playing James Bind? It could change cinema. It would open the door for a host of different interpretations of characters; imagine the story lines a black Bond could have. He may face racism while working for MI6. It would be an intricate factor that could greatly enhance the character. With any new actor comes a new interpretation and depth added to the role. Idris Elba knows all about depth when it comes to his acting.
In conclusion, if this comes to pass, Elba playing Bond, it would have a great affect on the future of Hollywood and how characters are interpreted and portrayed. Hopefully, race would no longer be a factor as society could be introduced to something new. There will always be bias and racism, but maybe it can be demoted in cinema. We’ve seen it happen in other facets of culture already relating to the President. It could be for the best.
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16 Comments
I think the key difference between this and other cases of race change in Hollywood is one of continuity. Daredevil, Thor, Batman (although that one was reversed in sequels and I didn’t like it) and the like all changed the race of a large character in the first films of their respective series. So the way the characters looked in the comics; a seperate universe, was irrelevent. Likewise to the Ultimate incarnation of Nick Fury, and I praised all as they were good actors. Even changing Felix in casino Royal worked as it was a reboot, and therefore a first in the series. I can’t see ‘another’ Bond reboot being popular right now; and as such such a drastic change of character would work. Bond shouldn’t be dealing with racism now; if nobody cared that he was black when the actor was white ect… As for Elba playing a super spy roll similar to Bond and making it his own. Count me in!!!
Can I nominate Benedict Cumberbatch for an Ian Fleming biopic instead? Because goddamn the guy would kill it.
As a black man, I agree wholeheartedly with this article, but you and I both know that Hollywood wouldn’t really do it. I believe Idris Elba is a great actor who I feel could play Batman, Superman, Green Lantern, and a plethora of other action roles, but the fans outcry would be so loud that Hollywood would try to deter it by not doing it (which we both know would be one of the few times Hollywood would listen to fans). Nevertheless I hope Mr. Elba gets this role and hopefully it leads to others, most preferably I hope he’s cast in the Justice League movie as John Stewart aka Green Lantern or J’onn J’onzz aka Martian Manhunter.
Idris Elba is a fantastic actor, there’s no doubt about that, a star amongst the wealth of talent Britain has produced over the years. As an action hero, a spy character, as James Bond, he would bring his considerable talents to the role and make it his own.
My problem with the whole black Bond argument, or anything other than a white British Bond, is that I find it fundamentally condescending towards the actor in question.
For 50 years the character in film has been portrayed in a very similar mould (blond hair not withstanding) and to take something that is now iconic and change it seems pointless. There doesn’t seem to be a good enough reason to have a black Bond other than for the sake of having a black Bond. What’s the motivation? To be liberal? To be hip? To be edgy?
Even though, according to your article, Idris would be honoured to play the part, why should he be? Why shouldn’t his opinion be, “I’d be honoured to play the part, but I’d be even more honoured to play a part written for a black actor, a positive role model, in a modern exciting film that one day might spawn it’s own franchise for fellow black actors to fill the role in years to come”
I’m not being precious about the legacy of 007, in a climate where Hollywood is petrified of making bold and new films, instead supporting itself on the crutches of remakes and reboots, it is ripe for change now more than ever. I just find the whole idea of “letting” a black actor play Bond incredibly patronising.
I’m not quite sure what Barak Obama has to do with the whole issue, but congratulations on a very good article with some very strong points.
Scandinavia isn’t a country. Anywho, I’d be more than happy to see an actor of Idris Elba’s quality playing James Bond, but only if he is playing Bond, as opposed to a black James Bond. If they draw attention to his colour and race starts seeping into plot lines then racism is never gonna go away. It’s a catch 22 scenario, whilst having a black Bond would inevitably break barriers, it still makes everyone see colour and not just a person, which is how it should be.
My bad on the Scandinavia mistake. a country, my fault. I agree with your opinion 100 percent.
Great actor, but don’t hold your breath. Hollywood still whitewashes films, so the opposite would probably just make their brains explode on thought.
I have mixed feelings about Idris Elba playing James Bond. As a black Haitian American male, I think that it is perfectly OK for characters to have a certain look that movies attempt to replicate as they have done with James Bond. For example if they remade an Asian film like say Bruce Lee’s Enter the Dragon, I would not feel it necessary to have a Black or White actor in the lead role. Plus look at the movie Catwoman with Halle Berry. After the initial novelty of having an African American play the role…it kind of dissipated and became a non-issue. The bigger issue for me is that Hollywood make MORE big budget movies with black actors and actresses in the lead. Some roles are somewhat undefined especially when new such as Neo in the movie the Matrix. That is the type of role I would love to see go to a Black actor and reportedly it almost happened. But almost seems to happen far too many times. Its past time to get beyond “almost” and see more “have done”…on the other hand I do think seeing a black actor in a fairly established and iconic role can be a signal to the movie industry that there are no sacred cows that only a certain “type” is capable of playing. Great article!
Just to note, you need to change your second sentence to say “sophistication.” Great article, though: passionate.
Are you serious??!?!?? Do you hear me moaning that blade is black??!? Captain marvel and cyborg were black?? No. If you RUIN a british institution that is James Bond by changing who the character is in essence, then James Bond is dead. I am not racist all races are equal. FACT. all people are equal. FACT. but a story is like history, you shouldn’t re write it. It would be like be re writing history to say that there was no black slave trade, they were all Chinese or White…. There would be outrage. So don’t mess with our story…..
Also you’re opinions are incredibly biased. There is no understanding of the story at hand.
Great, article. I really don’t see a problem with Bond being black at all (it’s more of an issue of whether the actor has chops or not and boy does Elba have chops — just started watching Luther on Netflix and it’s great). There’s really nothing about the character that necessitates the actor portraying him be caucasian, just British. Now say a Black man playing Atticus Finch in a remake of To Kill a Mockingbird wouldn’t make sense because the whole point of the character is that he’s a white man standing up to racism in era where segregation was law so a black actor portraying him would be nonsensical in context. Whereas Bond is set in the modern day and I’m certain there are people who aren’t white working for the British Secret Service.
I think casting an American actor in the role would be a larger disservice to the character and even then it really comes down to whether the actor can portray a convincing Brit.
I really don’t understand the pushback on this, especially given how many characters have been white-washed (e.g. Bane in Dark Knight Rises) with no outcry being raised. The fact it’s even an issue is disconcerting.
James Bond is not a character. James Bond is a codename, like his 007 suffix. Elba would not be playing a ‘black Bond’, he would be playing a British spy who has been given the codename James Bond. I can’t wait for it to happen.
This is something most hardcore Bond fans realize. It’s silly to think that Daniel Craig, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Goerge Lazenby, and Sean Connery are all playing the SAME exact character over teh span of 50 years!
Also in that vein, I once read an article that made a good point about a black Captain america and a black Superman:
Captain America can’t be black (Isaiah Bradley notwithstanding)because he’s supposed to be let down by modern America/society, whereas he was the most uncynical American in the 40′s during the height of American jingoism.It’s hard to think that in an era of Jim Crow laws and extreme racial prejudice that a black Captain could possibly be let down by the cynicism of the modern world having experienced such nastiness in his own time. Also unless, like Isaish Brabley, they experimented on black soldiers to test the safety of the super soldier serum (a la the Tuskeegee experiment)it would be highly unlikely that the gov’t would choose a black man as a symbol for America.
However, Superman can totally be black, because the point of Superman is that he is isolated, misunderstood, lonely etc. He can’t really connect with the people that he is saving, but feels extremely obligated to do so. That would make an excellent story arch because it both dehumanizes the “Superman” persona whilst humanizing the Clark Kent aspect of his personality. A lot of people would mistrust him before they even found out that he was an alien, and oh boy would that build up some dynamics.
Captain America can’t be black (Isaiah Bradley notwithstanding)because he’s supposed to be let down by modern America/society, whereas he was the most uncynical American in the 40′s during the height of American jingoism.It’s hard to think that in an era of Jim Crow laws and extreme racial prejudice that a black Captain could possibly be let down by the cynicism of the modern world having experienced such nastiness in his own time. Also unless, like Isaish Brabley, they experimented on black soldiers to test the safety of the super soldier serum (a la the Tuskeegee experiment)it would be highly unlikely that the gov’t would choose a black man as a symbol for America.
In the last few Bond films Felix Leiter has been played by a black actor and Miss Moneypenny has been played by black actress. Why can’t Bond be played by a black actor as well?
Leave Idris alone! Let him create his OWN super spy persona, make love to all women of color and just strut, stride, and swagger around the globe! And speak “British”!
BAT