Washington Post: Here’s what we’re missing when we discuss Idris Elba and James Bond

[Olm the Water King]

Washington Post: Here’s what we’re missing when we discuss Idris Elba and James Bond

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-discuss-idris-elba-and-james-bond/?tid=sm_fb

Here’s what we’re missing when we discuss Idris Elba and James Bond

By Soraya Nadia McDonald September 1 at 5:42 PM

Everyone knows Idris Elba is about as much of a man’s man as it gets.

Americans in particular have projected a certain image onto the “Luther” actor, one that gets reinforced every time he appears on a magazine cover. Elba is our go-to debonair, classy black man, having assumed the mantle from previous Designated Handsome Black Actor Denzel Washington. His English accent serves as the perfect topper.

...

 

[Also]

I don't understand why Elba's background, both his upbringing and the roles he started out with, is a factor in this? Bond is a fictional character lol.

Besides, Idris Elba is a babe.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

The larger issue is that I think he is already too old for the role. Craig will probably be in at least one more film, and if the rate at which they've been releasing the films since Casino Royale (2-3 years between new 007 films; they were released every 2 years following Thunderball, with a few exceptions) is any indication, Elba would already be pushing 50 by the time he was cast in the role.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

I wouldn't really take Horowitz's opinion too seriously anyway. He seems like a tool.

Ian Fleming was against the casting Of Connery but came to appreciate the scottish actor's portrayal and even modified Bond's back story to work in some Scottish roots in later novels. Based on that past precedent alone, one would expect Horowitz to perhaps be a little more open-minded.

But I still think Elba will be too old.

 

[Qlip]

British Classism vs American Racial Tokenization. Go!

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

My prejudice is ageism

 

[Hawthorne]

I don't understand why Elba's background, both his upbringing and the roles he started out with, is a factor in this? Bond is a fictional character lol.

Besides, Idris Elba is a babe.

Can you help me remember what exactly "acting" is? I appear to have lost my understanding of it? I vaguely remember having it somewhere after "effete, gentleman spy" and "refined not rough" but lost it somewhere before "casts Daniel Craig in role anyway"?

I am so terribly confused.

 

[Qlip]

My prejudice is ageism

How convenient for you.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

Too old to begin the double-oh training he is.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

I also think it works out better when a relative unknown is cast.

People's expectations, whether negative or positive, are too great when a well-known actor is cast.

 

[kyuuei]

He's a fictional character! I still can't believe Hollywood is so daft that they cannot write something.

James Bond is, if NOTHING else, a sex icon. Idris would do well in that role, and Daniel Craig is old hat. Hell, they could combine the two!! They could have Craig die off, and Idris take on the mantle. I thought the whole idea is that Bond is an identity, that the person using that identity isn't as important as the role itself. I can create like 5 cool scenarios off the top of my head in like 2 minutes that could have the two of them together, and Idris getting offered by that lady that runs everything to take on what Craig left behind.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

He's a fictional character! I still can't believe Hollywood is so daft that they cannot write something.

James Bond is, if NOTHING else, a sex icon. Idris would do well in that role, and Daniel Craig is old hat. Hell, they could combine the two!! They could have Craig die off, and Idris take on the mantle. I thought the whole idea is that Bond is an identity, that the person using that identity isn't as important as the role itself. I can create like 5 cool scenarios off the top of my head in like 2 minutes that could have the two of them together, and Idris getting offered by that lady that runs everything to take on what Craig left behind.

I debunked that theory in my blog thread. http://www.typologycentral.com/forums/private-blogs/77482-clean-break-post2493620.html#post2493620

 

[Totenkindly]

He's a fictional character! I still can't believe Hollywood is so daft that they cannot write something.

James Bond is, if NOTHING else, a sex icon. Idris would do well in that role, and Daniel Craig is old hat. Hell, they could combine the two!! They could have Craig die off, and Idris take on the mantle. I thought the whole idea is that Bond is an identity, that the person using that identity isn't as important as the role itself. I can create like 5 cool scenarios off the top of my head in like 2 minutes that could have the two of them together, and Idris getting offered by that lady that runs everything to take on what Craig left behind.

She's dead.

Obviously you're not a true Bond aficionado!

PS. No one disproved that Bond is actually a Time Lord.

Can you help me remember what exactly "acting" is? I appear to have lost my understanding of it? I vaguely remember having it somewhere after "effete, gentleman spy" and "refined not rough" but lost it somewhere before "casts Daniel Craig in role anyway"?

I am so terribly confused.

Yeah. Acting. I mean, who would have thought that decent actors can play people who they are not?

(The firestorm is already growing over Eddie Redmayne, a cisgen male, being chosen to play Lili Elbe, a transsexual. I mean, he's just an actor and only won an Academy Award last year. What's he know about pretending to be someone he's not? They should have chosen someone with ALS to play Hawking; it's clear Redmayne wouldn't understand it.)

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

She's dead.

Obviously you're not a true Bond aficionado!

PS. No one disproved that Bond is actually a Time Lord.

I sense a retarded hollywood twist ending.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

I sense a retarded hollywood twist ending.

I'm not the biggest Bond fan, but I really enjoyed Skyfall. Good theme song, too, and I'm normally not into Adele, either.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

She's dead.

Obviously you're not a true Bond aficionado!

PS. No one disproved that Bond is actually a Time Lord.



Yeah. Acting. I mean, who would have thought that decent actors can play people who they are not?

(The firestorm is already growing over Eddie Redmayne, a cisgen male, being chosen to play Lili Elbe, a transsexual. I mean, he's just an actor and only won an Academy Award last year. What's he know about pretending to be someone he's not? They should have chosen someone with ALS to play Hawking; it's clear Redmayne wouldn't understand it.)

That reminds me of people getting butthurt because Chris Pine's eyes aren't the same color as Shatner's eyes. Honestly, I never really paid too close attention to either actor's eyes.

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

I'm not the biggest Bond fan, but I really enjoyed Skyfall. Good theme song, too, and I'm normally not into Adele, either.

She pulled it off. Sort of a return to more traditional Shirley Bassey styled themes. Apparently Amy Winehouse would've been the producers' likely choice if she hadn't croaked.

 

[Totenkindly]

That reminds me of people getting butthurt because Chris Pine's eyes aren't the same color as Shatner's eyes. Honestly, I never really paid too close attention to either actor's eyes.

Damn them. Why did they ever think Pine could do a good job as Shatner?

 

[Doctor Cringelord]

Damn them. Why did they ever think Pine could do a good job as Shatner?

I have major issues with the Abramsverse, but the new cast is not one of those issues. They did the jobs they were hired to do.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

She pulled it off. Sort of a return to more traditional Shirley Bassey styled themes. Apparently Amy Winehouse would've been the producers' likely choice if she hadn't croaked.

I did not know that!