Somehow it’s become unofficial law that Idris Elba’s name must be a part of any conversation about who would be the next best James Bond. (Trivia: Elba has said that it was current 007 Daniel Craig who started this whole thing in the first place: “I blame Daniel,” Elba has joked. )
So it’s hard to imagine how the actor felt after yesterday’s kerfuffle. To recap: Anthony Horowitz, the author of a new James Bond novel, told The Daily Mail that he didn’t think Elba was the right man for the job. “Idris Elba is a terrific actor, but I can think of other black actors who would do it better,” Horowitz said. “For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It’s not a color issue. I think he is probably a bit too ‘street’ for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.”
The world reacted with appropriate outrage and Horowitz quickly took to Twitter to apologize: “I was asked in my interview if Idris Elba would make a good James Bond. In the article I expressed the opinion that to my mind Adrian Lester would be a better choice but I’m a writer not a casting director so what do I know? Clumsily, I chose the word ‘street’ as Elba’s gritty portrayal of DCI John Luther was in my mind but I admit it was a poor choice of word. I am mortified to have caused offence.”
On Tuesday, Elba took to his Instagram account — this controversy is hitting all the social media platforms — to respond, keeping things classy (as usual):
Being 007: LIFE Behind the Scenes at James Bond Auditions
A composite image of the five top candidates (including ultimate choice George Lazenby, bottom right). Published in the October 11, 1968, issue of LIFE.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageJohn Richardson during James Bond auditions, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageOn Her Majesty's Secret Service director Peter R. Hunt oversees a test love scene between John Richardson and an actress, moving her leg just so.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageJohn Richardson during James Bond auditions, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageJames Bond audition candidate John Richardson (left), in profile, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageJohn Richardson reacts as his screen-test costar pulls out a gun, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageDirector Peter Hunt studies John Richardson during his audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageJohn Richardson continued to act after he lost out on the Bond role, appearing in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970) and a string of Italian movies.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageJames Bond audition finalist Anthony Rogers, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageAnthony Rogers and an actress during a screen test, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageAnthony Rogers smokes a cigarette during his James Bond audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageAnthony Rogers smokes a cigarette during his James Bond audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageRobert Campbell during James Bond auditions, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageDirector Peter R. Hunt helps Robert Campbell get into a shoulder holster, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageRobert Campbell checks a page of lines during a James Bond audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageJames Bond hopeful Robert Campbell adjusts his shirt and jacket, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageRobert Campbell looks in the mirror between filming scenes for his James Bond audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageRobert Campbell during a kissing test, opposite actress France Anglade, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageHans de Vries during James Bond audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageHans De Vries and France Anglade, James Bond audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageHans de Vries during James Bond audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageGeorge Lazenby during James Bond audition, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageJames Bond hopeful George Lazenby fiddles with a knife while chatting with Bond director Peter R. Hunt, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageGeorge Lazenby goofs off behind the scenes of his screen test, boxing with an unidentified man, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageGeorge Lazenby twirls a gun beside potential Bond Girl Marie-France Boyer, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageGeorge Lazenby during auditions for the role of James Bond, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageGeorge Lazenby and Bond Girl hopeful Agneta Eckemyr, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageGeorge Lazenby leans against a bar during a moment away from James Bond auditions, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageGeorge Lazenby, 1967.Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image