Renowned British thespian, Idris Elba, has recently disclosed his previous interest in taking on the iconic role of James Bond, the beloved protagonist of the renowned British fictional franchise, until the unfortunate issue of racism surfaced.
In a recent appearance as a guest on the Smartless podcast, which is co-hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, the 50-year-old actor opened up about his candid thoughts on the matter.
Elba revealed that the swirling rumors surrounding his potential casting as James Bond were incredibly exhilarating for him.
Contemplating the situation, Elba expressed, "The truth is, I was immensely flattered for a considerable period of time about this [playing the James Bond role]. I was like, 'This is unbelievable! James Bond?'
"We are all actors and we comprehend the significance of that role. It's one of those highly sought-after roles. Being approached to portray James Bond was like, 'Okay, you've essentially reached the pinnacle.' It's one of those things where the entire world has a say.
"It was an enormous compliment that nearly every corner of the globe, except for certain corners that we won't delve into, welcomed the idea that I could be considered. Unfortunately, those who were not receptive to the idea made the entire situation distasteful by turning it into a racial issue."