Idris Elba Declares He's 'Not In the Race' for James Bond Role Amid Casting Buzz

Idris Elba is one of Hollywood's most notable and popular leading men, and he's appeared in several major films and franchises during his career. From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the world of "The Fast & Furious," there seems to be no corner of the film world that Elba hasn't been involved with.

After the iconic turn from Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond over the last two decades, Amazon MGM Studios is looking to cast its next 007.

As one of the top British actors around, many fans have floated Elba as a slam-dunk pick for the role. Elba is no stranger to the action required for the part, but he's also one of the more charismatic actors in Hollywood - a requirement for the role of James Bond.

Elba has been a top theoretical casting for the role, but with the search officially underway, he recently made an admission that could disappoint some of his longtime fans.

Idris Elba Admits He's "Not In the Race" For 007

"My name's not getting thrown out, no way," Elba said in an interview with People. "They're going younger. And I wish them all the luck of the world. I can't wait - it's going to be amazing."

Elba said that not only is he not being considered for the role currently, he's not sure that he was ever being considered to begin with. "I'm honestly not in the race ever. I wasn't in the race in the first place," he added.

The next installment of the long-running James Bond franchise will not feature Elba, but it will be directed by one of Hollywood's best. Academy Award nominee Denis Villeneuve (the "Dune" films, Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) will be behind the camera, and the new Bond will be the focal point of at least the next three films.

Daniel Craig assumed the role in five films, following in the footsteps of previous legends like Pierce Brosnan and Sean Connery. Craig's portrayal of an older, more grounded Bond was well received, and the films made him a household name among film fans around the world.

Elba's Unique Take on the James Bond Role

Elba has previously addressed the James Bond role, saying that he believed it to be the "pinnacle" of roles that an actor can be offered, but noted that he grew tired of the conversations that took place.

"Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world - except for some corners, which we will not talk about - were really happy about the idea that I could be considered," Elba said on the "Smartless" podcast in 2023 with Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes.

"Those that weren't happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense, and I got the brunt of it."

Elba's next film will be "Masters of the Universe," adapted from the popular He-Man cartoon series of the 1980s. The actor will play Duncan, one of He-Man's top allies and best friends.

Fans may miss out on Elba as Agent 007, but they can still get their James Bond fix when the "007: First Light" video game releases on PC and consoles this week on May 27th.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 25, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published May 25, 2026 at 2:16 PM.