James Bond casting search continues as Idris Elba rules out the role

British actor Idris Elba said the James Bond character should remain as originally written and dismissed any realistic chance of him playing the spy. Elba warned that some international markets might not accept a Black actor in the role and criticised attempts to make the franchise “woke.”

The hunt for Daniel Craig’s successor is still under way. Amazon MGM’s reboot, directed by Denis Villeneuve, entered a new casting phase in May 2026, with Prime Video overseeing the process. No actor has been confirmed, but names circulating include Aaron Taylor‑Johnson, James Norton, Callum Turner, Jacob Elordi, Louis Partridge and Tom Francis. The 26th Bond film remains untitled and its storyline is yet to be announced.