If you’ve been on the internet at any point over the past few years, you’ve seen the rise and near-fall of the “Idris For Bond” campaign.
Many want the famous English actor to take on the role of James Bond in the new set of Bond movies. Even the producer behind the franchise, Barbara Broccoli, loves the idea but knows the logistics of the casting go beyond fan service.
In an interview with Variety, Broccoli noted that there have been no talks with Idria Elba at this time but does admit her admiration for the actor.
“We love Idris. The thing is, it’s going to be a couple of years off, and when we cast Bond, it’s a 10-, 12-year commitment,” says Broccoli. “So he’s probably thinking, ‘Do I really want that thing? Not everybody wants to do that. It was hard enough getting [Daniel Craig to do it].”
Broccoli and fellow producer Michael G. Wilson underlined that this casting process goes beyond simply putting a man in a nice suit with shiny weapons.
“When people go, ‘Oh, who are you going to get?’ it’s not just about casting an actor for a film,” Broccoli continued. “It’s about a reinvention and ‘Where are we taking it? What do we want to do with the character?’ And then, once we figure that out, who’s the right person for that particular reinvention?”
“With [Craig], when we had the conversation at this very table about, you know, [whether he was] going to do it, he said, ‘Well, I’m going to do it. I really want to be a part of it, the whole thing.’ And he lived to regret that,” Broccoli added . “But it’s a big commitment. It’s not just showing up for a couple of months of filming.”
The character is also facing a changing real-world climate and a need for growth in iconic pop culture characters. Beyond the casting process, the new Bond must also tackle a unique storytelling method.
“It’s an evolution,” she says. “Bond is evolving just as men are evolving. I don’t know who’s evolving at a faster pace. [Craig] cracked Bond open emotionally. The films over his tenure were the first time we really connected the emotional arc.”
Who would you like to see as the next James Bond? Be sure to let us know on our social channels @FlickeringMyth…
