All articles tagged with #idris elba
Idris Elba says the long-running Bond rumors were never legit, as Amazon MGM begins its search for a new 007; the pop-culture digest also notes Hugh Laurie’s playful response to a House critique, confirms Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion sequel heading to Hulu with most of the original cast, and highlights Madonna’s Confessions II visuals with a July 3 release date.
Idris Elba stated in British GQ that the rumors he would be the next James Bond were never legitimate and that he never viewed the role as realistic for him. He noted Bond “was written [the way] he was for a reason,” and while he was flattered by the chatter, he believes global audiences — and markets — wouldn’t necessarily embrace a Black Bond. He also argued Bond should remain escapism and not be treated as a political statement, questioning whether there should be a Black Bond at all.
Idris Elba said some international audiences wouldn’t accept a Black actor as James Bond, calling the notion a rumor rather than a legit possibility and arguing Bond should stay escapist. He noted casting for the next Bond is underway at Amazon MGM Studios and that the race debate around the role has persisted, with other actors like Henry Cavill and Cillian Murphy among those tipped as potential successors.
Idris Elba says the idea of him playing James Bond has never been realistic, suggesting some markets wouldn’t accept a Black actor in the iconic role and urging not to force a woke vibe onto Bond. The piece notes the longstanding rumor, mentions that auditions for a new Bond are underway with Denis Villeneuve rumored to direct the next film, and that Elba remains focused on other action roles.
Idris Elba dismissed reports that he was seriously in contention for James Bond, arguing that audiences worldwide wouldn’t accept a Black Bond and that the character should remain faithful to Ian Fleming’s vision as escapism rather than a woke shift. The piece also notes ongoing development of Amazon MGM’s Bond reboot, with Nina Gold joining as casting director and several actors—Tom Francis, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jacob Elordi, and Callum Turner—reportedly in contention.
Idris Elba says Bond rumors were never legitimate or realistic, noting some markets may resist a Black actor as 007 and urging the franchise to stay escapist rather than overly woke as auditions for a younger Bond continue.
LA hosted the world premiere of Masters of the Universe with Nicholas Galitzine, Camila Mendes, and Idris Elba leading the red carpet; a highlight featured Galitzine posing with Dolph Lundgren and the Sword of Power, as a gallery showcased appearances from Morena Baccarin, Emma Krokdal, Sasheer Zamata and others.
Netflix has greenlit Extraction 3, reuniting Chris Hemsworth and Idris Elba with director Sam Hargrave. The third installment, based on Ande Parks’ Ciudad graphic novel and written by David Weil, will begin production this summer, with Golshifteh Farahani returning; AGBO continues its collaboration with Netflix on the Extraction universe.
Deadline reports Chris Hemsworth has closed a deal to reprise Tyler Rake in Extraction 3, with Sam Hargrave returning to direct and Idris Elba and Golshifteh Farahani also back on board. Production is set to begin this summer, with David Weil writing the script for Netflix/AGBO.
IndieWire’s review argues that Hijack Season 2 on Apple TV never quite lives up to its premise: Idris Elba’s magnetism can’t compensate for a Die Hard–style setup that feels overlong and underdelivered, with a subway-set thriller that meanders across multiple subplots and delivers dwindling suspense by the final episodes.
Hijack Season 2 shifts the action to a Berlin-bound train and Idris Elba’s Sam Nelson but bottlenecks its suspense with a heavier, past-present structure and too many peripheral players. While the cast delivers solid performances and the show engages with themes like surveillance and revenge, the narrative loses the single-minded propulsion of Season 1, making the season feel jumbled, less taut, and less satisfying overall.
This week’s must-see slate spans Hijack Series 2 on Apple TV+, Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery on Netflix, Industry Season 4 on BBC, Tell Me Lies Season 3 on Disney+, Matlock on Sky Witness, The Traitors Season 4 on BBC, and The Ring on Channel 4 streaming.
British boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a severe car crash in Nigeria, narrowly escaping with injuries, while the UK celebrates New Year Honours including Idris Elba's knighthood and achievements of England's Lionesses. The news also covers political debates over activist Alaa Abd El Fattah's return to the UK, rising ethno-nationalism, and changes in exam policies due to cheating concerns.
Idris Elba, Torvill and Dean, and other notable figures were recognized in Britain's 2026 New Year Honours for their contributions to society, with Elba receiving a knighthood for anti-knife crime campaigning and Torvill and Dean being honored for their Olympic achievements, among others in arts, sports, and community service.
Idris Elba was knighted as Sir Idris Elba for his services to young people through his charity work, while Cynthia Erivo received an MBE for her contributions to music and drama, both being honored in the UK Honours List alongside other notable figures for their achievements and community service.