Idris Elba has addressed years of rumors linking him to James Bond and said he was never actually in the running for the role.
Speaking at the Los Angeles premiere of Masters of the Universe, the 53-year-old star explained that people kept talking about him as the next 007, but in reality there was never a real casting process involving him.
Elba shared that he wasn’t on any serious shortlist for the iconic spy role.
The rumors have followed him for over a decade, especially after reports in 2014 suggested his name had been mentioned earlier in early studio discussions.
This led fans to believe he was about to become Bond.
The Hijack actor also spoke about how the conversation was sometimes uncomfortable, saying the idea of a Black James Bond provoked 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 moves forward for the next chapter.
Reports, however, suggest that casting is already underway with a new creative team in place.
Names like Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi and Aaron Taylor Johnson are now being mentioned as possible choices for the role.
As speculation continues online, Idris is currently focused on promoting his new film Masters of the Universe, in which he plays a key supporting character.
