James Bond Author Apologises For Saying Idris Elba Was Too "Street" To Play 007

The James Bond author who said Idris Elba was “too street” to play 007 has apologised because… well, I mean, did you see what he said?

Anthony Horowitz, writer of Bond’s horrendously titled next novel, Trigger Mortis, was asked by the UK’s Mail his thoughts on the campaign to get Elba (of Luther, The Wire and general handsomeness fame) to take over once Daniel Craig retires.

"For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part,” he said.

“It's not a colour issue,” he added, not helping things.

“I think he is probably a bit too 'street' for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah."

As expected, the internet went ballistic.

Horowitz has since taken to Twitter to apologise for his choice of words.

Now, if we step outside of the online outrage machine for one second – although it’s so warm and nourishing within it - we can clearly see what Horowitz was trying to convey; that he felt Elba wasn’t quite the right actor for the part due to his past film and television roles and not because of his race.

Still, the casual racism is right there, and not merely in the use of the vague but nonetheless offensive seeming “street” term. (See also: urban.)

Actors of colour are continually marginalised in cinema and television, often left with roles that perpetuate stereotypes, or left out of films entirely, as the brilliant “Every Single Word Spoken” Tumblr illustrates.

So, if a talented black actor auditions for Bond, will he be swept aside simply because his industry has forced him to take on “street” roles prior? Horowitz is seemingly cool with a black actor eventually trying the role on for size... though only if they meet some kind of 'respectability' criteria?

Horowitz says Luther was the Elba role he was specifically citing, and it's true Detective John Luther does indeed conduct his job outside the margins of the police rule-book. It's a great, well-written character performed expertly (and Elba has been rewarded with a Golden Globe and multiple Emmy nominations for his troubles). So, if Horowitz is aware of Luther - and, say, not just reducing him to his role in The Wire - he must realise Elba is an actor, whose job it is to adapt to a variety of roles. And yet, "street" is the description that first came to mind.

Stringer Bell