Idris Elba has spoken out about years of rumors linking him to James Bond and said he was never actually in the running for the role.
Speaking at the Masters of the Universe premiere in Los Angeles, the 53-year-old star explained that people kept talking about him as the next 007, but there was never actually an actual casting process involving him.
Elba shared that he wasn’t part of any serious shortlist for the iconic spy role.
Rumors have followed him for over ten years, especially after reports from 2014 suggested his name previously appeared in early studio discussions.
That led fans to believe he was close to becoming Bond.
The Hijack actor also spoke about how the conversation sometimes became awkward, saying that the idea of a black James Bond sparked negative reactions online that he sometimes found difficult.
He added that the Bond franchise now appears to be looking for a younger actor as planning for the next chapter progresses.
Reports, however, suggest that casting is already underway with a new creative team.
Names such as Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Aaron Taylor Johnson are now being mentioned as possible options for the role.
While speculation continues online, Idris is currently focused on promoting his new film Masters of the Universe, where he plays a key supporting character.
