While we couldn't be more excited by the prospect of Idris Elba playing the next James Bond, it seems not everyone was quite as delighted by the revelation that Sony executives were keen on the Luther star taking over from Daniel Craig as we are. Controversial commentator Rush Limbaugh has unashamedly admitted that he doesn't think Elba could play 007 because he's black, and he's not even hesitant to admit that he's actually really racist. Wow.
In the midst of the biggest disaster of 2014 which has been this month's Sony leaks, possibly the best news to come out of the whole fiasco is that the 42-year-old British hunk is the firm favourite to serve in her majesty's secret service, following the speculated pending retirement of Daniel Craig from the role. Sadly, Limbaugh isn't so keen on the idea of a black Bond, insisting that being “white and Scottish” is integral to the identity of the fictional, just to reiterate FICTIONAL, spy. We're not sure if Ian Fleming's books even specify the actual race of James Bond, but according to Limbaugh, Bond isn't Bond if he's not white.
“James Bond is a total concept put together by Ian Fleming. He was white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is," Limbaugh said. "But now [they are] suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton, rather than a white from Scotland. But that's not who James Bond is." Unbelievably, he didn't stop there, adding: “I know it's racist to probably point this out." Um...just slightly!
Scarily, Limbaugh was named as one of the most powerful men in U.S. media and signed a contract worth $400 million in 2008 with Clear Channel COmmunication, to spread his racist wonder across the States until 2016. As the only requirement for Bond in our books is that he's undeniably sexy, has a voice that makes us swoon, and looks fine behind the wheel of an Austin Martin, Elba is surely the ideal man for the job, no?
Rush Limbaugh blasts rumours Idris Elba could be the next James Bond (Euan Cherry/WENN)
Well, he seems pretty keen to take on the role, obviously. During a Reddit AMA, Elba when asked if he would accept the part of 007, he admitted: “Yes, if it was offered to me, absolutely." But that's not to say he doesn't also have his reservations. Speaking to NPR, the actor said: “I just don't want to be called the first black James Bond. Do you understand what I'm saying? Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond. So if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."
Well, let's not get too excited as we still have Daniel Craig, who we feel we should point out that we absolutely love by the way, playing Bond in the forthcoming, Spectre. Filming is well underway for the 24th Bond, and sees the return of Ralph Fiennes, Naomi Harris and Ben Wishaw as well as introducing Andrew Scott and the fabulous Christophe Waltz as the villainous Franz Oberhauser. Doesn't he just sound like a classic Bond bad guy already?
Spectre, Daniel Craig's fourth and believed to be final James Bond is currently scheduled to hit cinemas nationwide on November 6.
