Next James Bond: Idris Elba finally says 'enough is enough' to those 007 rumours

If cast as Bond, Elba would be the first black actor to play the iconic secret agent

Idris Elba was branded 'too street' to play Bond by author Anthony Horowitz (Getty Images)

Idris Elba has finally grown tired of the flood of ‘next James Bond rumours’ touting him as the first black 007.

The British actor has been hotly tipped to take over from Daniel Craig ever since the Sony Pictures hack revealed him a favourite of studio bosses last year.

He has previously stated his interest, but after being asked about his chances at every interview, the Luther star has called time on the speculation.

“It feels like I’m campaigning and I’m not. At first it was harmless - oh, I know, wouldn’t it be great? - and now it’s started off racial debates,” he told The Telegraph, when the topic was raised yet again.

“I’m probably the most famous Bond actor in the world and I’ve not even played the role. Enough is enough. I can’t talk about it any more.”

Reactions to the idea of Elba playing the iconic secret agent have ranged from enthusiastic to unconvinced, with author Anthony Horowitz memorably branding him “too street” for the famous role and former Bond Pierce Brosnan predicting that the character will stay white and straight.

But Elba is wary of straying too far into discussion of film industry discrimination and does not want to be known as “a black actor”. “You’ve got a generation of people who just want to move forward, not keep going on about the past,” he said.

That’s not to say he doesn’t think he has a chance. “James Bond is a spy. He could be any colour, surely,” he told Entertainment Weekly last week.

“Honestly, it’s one of those things that if it should happen it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy; it would be the will of a nation.”

Elba will next been seen when Luther returns for a limited fourth series on 15 December on BBC One, while latest Bond film Spectre is in cinemas now.