Update: Anthony Horowitz has apologized via Twitter and issued a statement over his comments which “have caused offense.”
In news that doesn’t matter for future movies nor casting, the new author of the James Bond books thinks Idris Elba is “too street” to play 007.
“For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It’s not a colour issue,” writer Anthony Horowitz told the Daily Mail. “I think he is probably a bit too ‘street’ for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.”
Horowitz instead cited another black British actor Adrian Lester as a better choice. Horowitz, however, is a hired writer for the Fleming Estate, the controlling interest that mains the intellectual property over Ian Fleming’s work. Fleming is the creator of the James Bond franchise.
It’s worth noting, though, that Eon Productions makes the movies and, in turn, handles the casting. So, in other words, we’re gonna let Horowitz finish, but….
The news left Elba fans up in arms, this following word that David Oyelowo will voice James Bond in a cartoon, which left the “Luther” star’s followers confused that he was left out for future productions.
It remains to be seen who will grace the tux once Daniel Craig is done playing Bond, but Elba certainly is still in the running.