Many 007 fans would love to see English actor Idris Elba replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond.
But in an interview with the Daily Mail, Anthony Horowitz, author of the newest James Bond novel, Trigger Mortis, revealed that he doesn't think Idris Elba would be the right actor:
Neither is Horowitz impressed with the favourite to take over from Daniel Craig.
'Idris Elba is a terrific actor, but I can think of other black actors who would do it better.'
He names Adrian Lester, star of Hustle.
Horowitz said he believes that Elba is too "rough" and "street" for the role of the suave 007 agent.
"For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It's not a colour issue. I think he is probably a bit too 'street' for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah."
Horowitz's comments sparked outrage on Twitter:
Among other reasons, "Racism is over" is a lie because we're still arguing whether one of the suavest men in the UK can be Bond right now.
Casting a black man as Bond would definitely obstruct the upkept white image. It's some weird tradition of whiteness.
James Bond is white and kills people FOR A LIVING but Idris Elba is "too street" to play him
Daniel Craig has to be the "Streetest" interpretation of Bond ever to hit the screen. This guy just needs to say he doesn't want Bond Black.
About the Idris-is-too-street-for-Bond quote: Horowitz suggested Adrian Lester. With that, the Jim Brown-Sidney Poitier paradigm reemerges.
“Too street to play Bond” = “Too black to play Bond,” FYI.
Later in the day, Horowitz issued an apology on Twitter.
I'm really sorry my comments about Idris Elba have caused offence [full statement attached]
H/T Mashable.
BuzzFeed has reached out to Elba's rep and Horowitz's publisher for comment.