‘I’m not going to be that guy’: Idris Elba rules himself out of playing James Bond so he can focus on Luther role
Idris Elba has ruled himself out of playing James Bond so he can focus on his deal with Netflix, where he is starring in Luther: The Fallen Sun.
The actor, 50, brought up the persistent discussions about him taking over as Ian Fleming’s famed British spy on Tuesday.
When asked about his upcoming film at the World Government Summit in Dubai, he said: ‘It’s very dark.
‘We’ve been working on the television show for about 10 years and so the natural ambition is to take it to the big screen, and so we’re here with the first movie.
‘You know, a lot of people talk about another character that begins with J and ends with B, but I’m not going to be that guy.
Shame: Idris Elba has ruled himself out of playing James Bond so he can focus on his deal with Netflix, where he is starring in Luther: The Fallen Sun (pictured on Tuesday)
‘I’m going to be John Luther. That’s who I am.’
Luther: The Fallen Sun is scheduled to arrive in select cinemas on February 24, which is then followed by a Netflix release on March 10.
It is the follow-up to the British television series of the same name (2010–2019), which ended up running for five seasons.
Netflix also shared brand new images of Elba, back once again as DCI John Luther, who was last seen being sent to prison in the dramatic BBC series finale.
The action-packed teaser begins with Luther fighting with fellow prisoners before breaking out.
Once he gets free and back in the city, it appears a women needs his help to get revenge on someone after doing something evil to her son.
His character is then heard saying: ‘I need to stop this man, I’m still a copper’, before being told by the armed forces if he doesn’t stand down they’ll ‘shoot him dead’.
The film’s villain is then heard saying: ‘John, I looked you right in the eye because I was curious and I wanted to know if you’d see it in me. Because that is who you are isn’t it, the man who knows all about people like me.’
Not for me: The actor, 50, brought up the persistent discussions about him taking over as Ian Fleming’s famed British spy on Tuesday (Daniel Craig is pictured in the role)
Tense scenes then show Luther with blood on his face after fighting, as he says: ‘He wants the world to think the bad dream has come true.’
Viewers then see Luther fighting the villain in a London underground station before being retrained by armed officers.
It ends with a close up shot of Luther saying ‘Let the nightmare come, because I’m ready’.
Back in August, it was reported Idris had walked away from ‘years of talks’ with movie bosses to take over the famous role.
Action packed: Luther: The Fallen Sun is scheduled to arrive in select cinemas on February 24, which is then followed by a Netflix release on March 10
He had been the bookies’ favourite to replace Daniel Craig as the super spy, but is keen to pursue other roles – and has even put forward a list of proposed names to producer Barbara Broccoli of actors to play 007.
A source told The Sun: ‘Fans and Barbara wanted Idris but he wants to create something for himself.
‘However, he’s put forward names to play 007. He’s ‘informally’ in the decision-making process as he’s been in talks with producers for so long.’
MailOnline contacted reps for Idris and James Bond producers at the time.
While at the premiere of his movie The Harder They Fall in 2021, Idris said when asked if he’ll be considered as the next 007 he said: ‘No, I’m not going to be James Bond.’
He also told The Express about the rumours: ‘I’m probably the most famous Bond actor in the world, and I haven’t even played the role.’
Idris then added: ‘Enough is enough. I can’t talk about it anymore.’
‘He’s been in talks for so long’: Back in August, it was reported Idris had walked away from ‘years of talks’ with movie bosses to take over the famous role (pictured in 2022)
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