Idris Elba has said he was never "in the race" to be the next James Bond. The Luther actor has long been at the centre of rumours over succeeding Daniel Craig as the iconic spy.
However, he has firmly ruled himself out as the search for the next 007 gets under way, saying he was never officially in contention.
"My name's not getting thrown out, no way," he told 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.
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"I'm honestly not in the race ever. I wasn't in the race in the first place."
A few years ago, Elba reflected on being linked to the role, saying he felt put off amid a racist backlash over the rumours.
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"Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world except from some corners, which we will not talk about, were really happy about the idea that I could be considered," he told the SmartLess podcast.
"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."
The next Bond movie is being directed by Dune's Denis Villeneuve and written by Peaky Blinders' Steven Knight, which comes after Amazon MGM took over creative control of the franchise last year.
Callum Turner and Jacob Elordi are among favourites to take over the role, with Elordi recently earning the backing of former Bond star Rosamund Pike, who called him a "fantastic actor" as she added to GQ: "He certainly looks like a great Bond. I mean, why not?"
It was also claimed on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast that Elordi could be in the frame, with journalist Marina Hyde saying: "I have heard from a number of people now that Jacob Elordi has kind of moved into pole position."
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Sam is a freelance reporter and sub-editor who has a particular interest in movies, TV and music. After completing a journalism Masters at City University, London, Sam joined Digital Spy as a reporter, and has also freelanced for publications such as NME and Screen International. Sam, who also has a degree in Film, can wax lyrical about everything from Lord of the Rings to Love Is Blind, and is equally in his element crossing every 't' and dotting every 'i' as a sub-editor.
