If one thing keeps the entertainment section of the British tabloids in business, it’s casting rumors related to franchises like James Bond and “Doctor Who”.
This weekend, The Sun is reporting that one-time Bond candidate Idris Elba is allegedly in negotiations to play the villain in the next Bond film.
According to their unnamed source, some talk has already taken place – even as the next film is still very early in development and doesn’t even have a new Bond as yet:
“Idris has had informal talks with the studio and he has been told there is a role in the next Bond film for him, if he wants it. He won’t be the title character, but they do recognise the amount of pull and respect he commands, and they want to work with him on a completely original character for the next instalment… it looks like it would be the role of a villain.”
Daniel Craig was 38 at the time when he took the part. Elba, at 49, is arguably now seen as too old to take on the 007 role which demands a certain longevity in the part from its stars. That leaves the likes of Henry Cavill, Tom Hardy, Henry Golding, Richard Madden, Tom Hopper, Sam Heughan and Rege Jean-Page all being up for the role.
No word as yet regarding when a new Bond film might begin production. Elba is currently at work on the film continuation of the BBC’s “Luther” series.