As far as I’m concerned once they decided they could get away with a smooth-chested blonde guy then all bets were off as far as Bond’s physical appearance goes.
I think Elba might be getting toward the upper end of the age spectrum for the part (Connery once said Bond should be played by someone 33-35 years old) but at least he’s still a good 15 years younger than Roger Moore was when he filmed Spy Grandpa visits San Francisco.
They say Elba is too close in age to Craig to replace him, but Moore is older than Connery.
‘Too street’ sounds like a dog whistle. But then apparently he thinks Adrian Lester would be okay (EDIT: also the same age as Craig). Maybe he added that so he didn’t sound too racist.
I’d go with Chiwetel Ejiofor. Or stick with my old idea of Rufus Sewell (except he’s the same age as Craig).
Idris would make an excellent Bond, and damnit it is because he is a fucking phoenominal actor who is so sauve it hurts. Off the top of my head I can’t think of a better actorfor the role (with the giant caveat that I don’t know all actors).
Tom Hiddleston? Cumberbatch? Kit Harrington? Just no.
I could name some Americans, but I doubt 007 will ever be an American.
Moore didn’t replace Connery because Connery was too old, he replaced him because Connery didn’t want the part anymore. Moore’s age wasn’t an issue for the first couple of movies but by the end he came across less as “charming playboy” than “creepy old man who really should have stopped trying to hook up with chicks that young about 25 years ago.”
So I guess Elba might not be too old for the role so long as they don’t try to keep him around for too many movies.
Well, NSNA actually addresses Connery/Bond’s age (although they still forced him to wear his rug) so like it or not, Connery was probably just the right age for that movie.
Didn’t Ian Fleming basically dismiss Sean Connery with the same weak-ass “argument”?
James Bond’s creator, Ian Fleming, originally doubted Connery’s casting, saying, “He’s not what I envisioned of James Bond looks”, and “I’m looking for Commander Bond and not an overgrown stunt-man,” adding that Connery (muscular, 6’ 2", and a Scot) was unrefined.
He would be good, wouldn’t he? Let’s see if pure internet hype can Snakes on a Plane this meme into reality.
Jon Hamm? It’s Jon Hamm, isn’t it.
Let’s just ignore Barry Nelson, everyone does anyway. But they did have an Australian, so that’s something. Also, this list of actors considered for the role is incredible.
Daniel Craig has been the one who closest resembled the Bond described in the books physically, but whatevers. He was described as looking like Hoagie Carmichael with a long scar on his face. So something like this…
Anyway I think Idris Elba is an awesome choice for Bond.
a couple of things that really steam me over this.
Horowitz apparently thought it was appropriate to discuss an actor’s appropriateness for a role, outside of an interview process. Typecast is a polite way of unveiling one’s stereotyped notions in public.
Horowitz apparently didn’t think through whether it would be a good time to debate whether young black men should have a positive law-enforcement role-model in mass media.