Can James Bond be played by a black man?
Absolutely. Just don't tell Rush Limbaugh, who devoted part of his radio show on Tuesday to fussing over a rumor that Idris Elba -- a black actor known for his roles in "The Wire," "American Gangster" and others -- could replace current 007 Daniel Craig when the time comes.
“James Bond is a total concept put together by Ian Fleming. He was white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is, was,” Limbaugh said, in comments flagged by Media Matters. “But now [they are] suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton, rather than a white from Scotland."
"But that’s not who James Bond is," he continued, acknowledging, "and I know it’s racist to probably point this out.”
In a 2011 interview with NPR, Elba addressed the rumor he might replace Craig, telling host Linda Wertheimer he's not interested in playing "black roles" -- just "roles."
"I just don't want to be the black James Bond," Elba said. "Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond, so if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."
The current rumor has its roots in a leaked email from Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal, who in a private message sent earlier this year, stated, "Idris should be the next Bond."
Listen to Limbaugh's comments in full, above.
Absolutely. Just don't tell Rush Limbaugh, who devoted part of his radio show on Tuesday to fussing over a rumor that Idris Elba -- a black actor known for his roles in "The Wire," "American Gangster" and others -- could replace current 007 Daniel Craig when the time comes.
“James Bond is a total concept put together by Ian Fleming. He was white and Scottish. Period. That is who James Bond is, was,” Limbaugh said, in comments flagged by Media Matters. “But now [they are] suggesting that the next James Bond should be Idris Elba, a black Briton, rather than a white from Scotland."
"But that’s not who James Bond is," he continued, acknowledging, "and I know it’s racist to probably point this out.”
In a 2011 interview with NPR, Elba addressed the rumor he might replace Craig, telling host Linda Wertheimer he's not interested in playing "black roles" -- just "roles."
"I just don't want to be the black James Bond," Elba said. "Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond, so if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond."
The current rumor has its roots in a leaked email from Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal, who in a private message sent earlier this year, stated, "Idris should be the next Bond."
Listen to Limbaugh's comments in full, above.
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