Idris Elba has teased swapping Luther’s big coat for 007’s tuxedo after recent reports linked the star with taking over the iconic film role from Daniel Craig.
Also heavily tipped by the bookies to become the next James Bond, Idris raised fan hopes further as he tweeted a cheeky tribute to the suavest spy in MI6.
Indeed the bets are seemingly off Idris stepping into Bond’s shoes (and his Aston Martin) after producer Barbara Broccoli told director Antoine Fuqua she felt the part would “eventually” played by a non-white actor.
“My name’s Elba, Idris Elba,” Idris tweeted earlier today, echoing Bond’s enduring catchphrase after days of fan and media guesswork.
my name’s Elba, Idris Elba. pic.twitter.com/kEyyaVg8JX
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) August 12, 2018
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A few hours later, however, the 45-year-old poked further fun at the mounting speculation by tweeting the title of a very famous hip hop track, apparently dampening down expectations.
Hilariously though, fans still managed to see Bond hints in an accompanying snap of group Public Enemy (whose members have included Flavor Flav – remember him from bizarre Channel 5 reality show The Farm in 2005?), performers of the tune.
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) August 12, 2018
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Reaching very, very far for a connection, one fan commented: “I see two clocks in the picture. A clock is round. 0 is also round. Two round clocks can be called double 0. There are only 6 people on the picture, I feel like you’re the 7th tweeting it. 007???”
Makes perfect sense. Get the vodka martinis poured out ready and waiting for him.
After all, it seems age is very much just a number when it comes to Bond. Remember Roger Moore?
Training Day director Fuqua told the Daily Star: “Idris could do it if he was really tight and in shape. He doesn’t look 45. No one would even know.
Don’t believe the HYPE…
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) August 12, 2018
“When Sean Connery stepped into the scene he was a rough old dude.”
Speaking in 2016, The Wire star Idris shrugged off being linked with playing Bond, saying: “I think I’m too old for that, running around in cars and ladies and martinis… Who wants to do that?”
And in a recent radio interview, he joked: “No I won’t do it. $150million? Okay – yes, I will do it.”
Happy Valley actor James Norton and Inception star Tom Hardy are also tipped to be in the running for the role.
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