Idris Elba admits his mum still believes he will play James Bond

‘I know the rumours have always chased me’: Idris Elba admits his mum still believes he will play James Bond… as actor confirms Luther film is ‘definitely coming’


Idris Elba admitted his mother is still holding out hope that he will become the next James Bond, after confirming a feature length version of Luther is still in the works. 

The actor has been repeatedly linked with the coveted role following Daniel Craig’s confirmation that he will not return following the delayed release of No Time To Die – his sixth film as Bond. 

But while Elba, 48, has previously admitted his chances of becoming the next 007 are remote, his mum Eve remains quietly optimistic. 

Opening up: Idris Elba admitted his mother is still holding out hope that he will become the next James Bond, after confirming a feature length version of Luther is still in the works

Speaking to Capital XTRA on Tuesday, the British star admitted a big-screen addition to hugely popular BBC drama Luther is a more likely possibility. 

He said: ‘The Luther film is definitely coming, I’m very excited. For the fans that have watched five seasons of Luther, I owe it to them to take it to the next level, and that’s where the film comes in.

‘I know the rumours about Bond have always chased me. Listen, my poor mum is like “one day you’re going to get it!” I was like “mum, I’m good, I’ve got Luther”. I’m definitely doing that.’

The name's Bond: The actor has been repeatedly linked with the coveted role following Daniel Craig's confirmation that he will not return following the delayed release of No Time To Die

The name’s Bond: The actor has been repeatedly linked with the coveted role following Daniel Craig’s confirmation that he will not return following the delayed release of No Time To Die

Divided opinion: While Elba, 48, has previously admitted his chances of becoming the next 007 are remote, his mum Eve (pictured) remains quietly optimistic

Divided opinion: While Elba, 48, has previously admitted his chances of becoming the next 007 are remote, his mum Eve (pictured) remains quietly optimistic

Looking ahead: Speaking to Capital XTRA on Tuesday, the British star admitted a big-screen addition to hugely popular BBC drama Luther is a more likely possibility

Exciting: 'The Luther film is definitely coming, I’m very excited. For the fans that have watched five seasons of Luther, I owe it to them to take it to the next level, and that’s where the film comes in'

Looking ahead: Speaking to Capital XTRA on Tuesday, the British star admitted a big-screen addition to hugely popular BBC drama Luther is a more likely possibility

Hopeful: 'I know the rumours about Bond have always chased me. Listen, my poor mum is like “one day you’re going to get it!” he said

Hopeful: ‘I know the rumours about Bond have always chased me. Listen, my poor mum is like “one day you’re going to get it!” he said 

Looking ahead to his latest projects, he added: ‘I’ve got Suicide Squad coming out this year, that’s a good look. I’m really excited about that. Shout out to James Garner who directed that, and his whole team. 

‘And then I’m definitely doing more music. I’ve got a tune that’s coming that I think is gonna be the biggest tune of the summer – just putting it out there, just saying. And I’m just having fun with the creativity.’ 

Speaking to Vanity Fair in 2019, Elba conceded he was not in the running to become the first black Bond in the franchise’s 59 year history.

Success: Luther is expected to return in a feature length film, although a date is yet to be established

Success: Luther is expected to return in a feature length film, although a date is yet to be established 

He said: ‘Of course, if someone said to me “Do you want to play James Bond?”, I’d be like, Yeah! That’s fascinating to me.

‘But it’s not something I’ve expressed, like, Yeah, I wanna be the black James Bond.’

Reflecting on the debate regarding Bond’s ethnicity, he added: ‘You just get disheartened when you get people from a generational point of view going, “It can’t be.”‘

‘And it really turns out to be the colour of my skin. And then if I get it and it didn’t work, or it did work, would it be because of the colour of my skin? That’s a difficult position to put myself into when I don’t need to.’