For someone who really isn't going to be James Bond, Idris Elba sure wants to keep talking about being James Bond.
The rumor of this year's People's Sexiest Man Alive taking on the role of 007 has been swirling for years at this point, even though Daniel Craig still has one more go-around ("Bond 25" is due out in 2020). Even though Elba has straight-up rebuffed the rumors -- he gave "Good Morning Britain" a flat "no" when they asked last August -- I guess he thinks it's fun to still play along...?
Like at the Golden Globes, when he took this cheeky selfie with Craig.
Or even before that, when he tweeted the iconic line using his own name. Why play around, Elba?!
Richard Madden ("Game of Thrones," "Bodyguard) is now the top pick to reprise the role, which is something I can wholeheartedly get on board with, because have you seen him?
According to Event, Elba said he wouldn't want to play a role that defines him for the rest of his life, opting instead to separate his characters from his true self.
"'Bond' is one of the biggest franchises in the world, and for that reason, whoever ends up playing it, lives it. You’re that character, and known as that character for many, many years," he said. "I’m creating characters now that can still live alongside Idris, not ones that take over me and solely define me."
Sounds fishy for someone who literally can't stop pretending he's going to play Bond.
Plus, I have to disagree here -- I think viewers know how to separate the Bond from the actor. Just look at Pierce Brosnan, who was Bond from 1995 until 2002. Sure, he's mostly known for 007, but even his IMDb page has his role as Sam opposite Meryl Streep in "Mamma Mia!" under his "Known For" credentials. Those musicals breathed new life into Bond!
And, anyway, Elba seems to be doing just fine doing his thing -- he DJs as DJ Big Driis on the side (including for the royal wedding), and did anyone else see that clip of him rapping for Wiley, Stefflon Don and Sean Paul's song "Boasty" last week? We'll call it prep for his role in "Turn Up Charlie," a new Netflix show out March 15.
He'd be just fine, but I guess we'll just have to wait a little longer for an African American James Bond.