The last James Bond movie released was No Time to Die in 2021, starring Daniel Craig. The franchise needs a new leading man, and there have been rumors about who is in talks of taking it over. One of those actors revealed that the rumor about him isn’t true.
Idris Elba Says the Next James Bond Actor Will Be Younger
Idris Elba Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal
The British franchise unsurprisingly considers actors from the region for the role. Idris Elbaisn’t a stranger to action movies, having appeared in Thor: Love and Thunder, Hobbs & Shaw, and more. A Black man hasn’t played 007 before, but people thought maybe Elba, 53, would be the first.
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There was even a James Bond reference in Luther: The Fallen Sun because of the rumor. “I didn’t write that. I didn’t write that,” the actor told TODAY. “I remember seeing that in the script and was like, ‘Are we sure bro? I mean, this is like right on the nose.’ And he was like, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.”
The actor revealed he won’t be switching one agent role for another. Elba told PEOPLE. “My name’s not getting thrown out, no way,” he said. “They’re going younger. And I wish them all the luck of the world. I can’t wait — it’s going to be amazing.” He later said, “I’m honestly not in the race ever. I wasn’t in the race in the first place.”
That takes one name off the list of rumored names. Craig has moved on from the iconic role by playing Benoit Blanc in the Knives Out franchise. The Southern detective solves a murder mystery in every movie with his intelligence instead of a gun.
If Elba is correct, then a young British actor will be the next to play the iconic role. That’s something to keep in mind if another actor is rumored to be in talks for the next movie.
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This story was originally published by Parade on May 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the Celebs section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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