--- title: Idris Elba: Read His Classy Response to 'Too Street' Comment description: He responded in the best way canonical: https://time.com/4020759/idris-elba-james-bond-response/ author: Entertainment Weekly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-09-02T21:07:02.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T08:02:13.118Z og:title: Read Idris Elba's Classy Response to 'Too Street' Comment og:description: He responded in the best way og:url: https://time.com/4020759/idris-elba-james-bond-response/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt77b0ebeb424a9594/69886218ab6d773da76a6029/idris-elba1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3543 og:image:height: 1993 og:image:alt: Idris Elba at "Mandela, My Dad And Me" photocall as part of MIPTV 2015 in Cannes, France on April 14, 2015. og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Read Idris Elba's Classy Response to 'Too Street' Comment twitter:description: He responded in the best way twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt77b0ebeb424a9594/69886218ab6d773da76a6029/idris-elba1.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Read Idris Elba's Classy Response to 'Too Street' Comment > Sponsored content. 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Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=b920c2b5-de00-44d1-86ca-833a5584f413&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Bond Author Apologizes For Saying Idris Elba Is 'Too Street' [Watch (HLS stream): Bond Author Apologizes For Saying Idris Elba Is 'Too Street'](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/PWLwcpdT.m3u8) (1:40)  _Published 2015-09-02. Anthony Horowitz, current "James Bond" author, said Idris Elba is "too street" to play 007 ... and then quickly apologized._ by [Sara Vilkomerson / Entertainment Weekly](https://time.com/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## Sara Vilkomerson / Entertainment Weekly Sep 2, 2015 9:07 PM UTC  Idris Elba at "Mandela, My Dad And Me" photocall as part of MIPTV 2015 in Cannes, France on April 14, 2015. Idris Elba at "Mandela, My Dad And Me" photocall as part of MIPTV 2015 in Cannes, France on April 14, 2015. Tony Barson—FilmMagic/Getty Images by [Sara Vilkomerson / Entertainment Weekly](https://time.com/author/entertainment-weekly/) ## Sara Vilkomerson / Entertainment Weekly Sep 2, 2015 9:07 PM UTC 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 ](http://www.people.com/article/idris-elba-james-bond-rumor-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_](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/event/article-3212827/James-Bond-new-book-Trigger-Mortis-written-Anthony-Horowitz-wanted-life.html) 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 ](https://twitter.com/AnthonyHorowitz/status/638757024000557056)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): _This_ [_article_](http://www.ew.com/article/2015/09/02/idris-elba-responds-james-bond-comment) _originally appeared on_ [_EW.com_](http://www.ew.com) ### 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 Image  John Richardson during James Bond auditions, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  On 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 Image  John Richardson during James Bond auditions, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  James Bond audition candidate John Richardson (left), in profile, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  John Richardson reacts as his screen-test costar pulls out a gun, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Director Peter Hunt studies John Richardson during his audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  John 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 Image  James Bond audition finalist Anthony Rogers, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Anthony Rogers and an actress during a screen test, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Anthony Rogers smokes a cigarette during his James Bond audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Anthony Rogers smokes a cigarette during his James Bond audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Robert Campbell during James Bond auditions, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Director Peter R. Hunt helps Robert Campbell get into a shoulder holster, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Robert Campbell checks a page of lines during a James Bond audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  James Bond hopeful Robert Campbell adjusts his shirt and jacket, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Robert Campbell looks in the mirror between filming scenes for his James Bond audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Robert Campbell during a kissing test, opposite actress France Anglade, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Hans de Vries during James Bond audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Hans De Vries and France Anglade, James Bond audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  Hans de Vries during James Bond audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  George Lazenby during James Bond audition, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  James Bond hopeful George Lazenby fiddles with a knife while chatting with Bond director Peter R. Hunt, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  George Lazenby goofs off behind the scenes of his screen test, boxing with an unidentified man, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  George Lazenby twirls a gun beside potential Bond Girl Marie-France Boyer, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  George Lazenby during auditions for the role of James Bond, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  George Lazenby and Bond Girl hopeful Agneta Eckemyr, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  George Lazenby leans against a bar during a moment away from James Bond auditions, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image  George Lazenby, 1967. Loomis Dean—Time & Life Pictures/Getty Image ## Transcript If you look at Idris Elba, what are the first few words that come to mind? Polished, talented, and sexy. Those are three words you also might use to describe James Bond, right? One would think. But the writer of Trigger Mortis, the newest Bond book, says otherwise. Anthony Horowitz told the daily mail, he doesn't think Elba is suave enough to step into the iconic spy role. Excuse me, what? Actually to quote Horowitz, I think he is probably a bit too street for Bond. We already have a sneak peek of what he would look like behind the wheel thanks to this Jaguar ad You can't tell me that's not suave. This car is. Rumors that Sony wants it Elba as the next Spawn started after the Sony email hacks. According to the Daily Beast one email from former Sony co- chairmen Amy Pascal to an executive at Columbia Pictures, which distributes the films Point blank said Idris should be the next Bond. So don't worry Idris, your lack of suaveness is just Horowitz's opinion. Besides he also said Skyfall is his least favorite film. For the record, Skyfall earned $ 1. 1 billion worldwide and has a 92 % critics approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It's also the top grossing Bond film of all time, plus reactions on Twitter have been overwhelmingly supportive of the actor stepping into the iconic character's shoes. Horowitz later issued an apology on Twitter acknowledging his too street [ INAUDIBLE ]. Description of Elba was largely inaccurate. He said 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 director, so what do I know. 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