To think that saying Idris Elba isn't suitable to play Bond because he's 'too street'...

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... is actually a racist comment, which - however 'jokingly' said - is absolutely not an appropriate thing to say in an office environment?

I'm on week two of a new position and between this kind of thing and other dodgy goings-on am debating whether to hand my notice in.

WIBU to mention my discomfort to line manager (who heard whole thing, laughed along etc.) or alternatively to just cut and run? Am I being a bit sensitive?

I bloody hate James Bond films, am I the only one?

Chaz Roger Moore was very well known as The Saint prior to signing on to the franchise. Lazenby was also a well-known model before he played Bond. Crossing over isn't impossible just because public perception has them type cast. I agree that certain actors only seem to be able to play one particular role, but I don't think that Idris Elba is one of them.

The whole point of an actor - a good actor - is that they are a blank canvas. Just because someone has played a certain type of character doesn't mean they can't inhabit a different one. The issue of public perception being proved wrong - rather brilliantly - when the whole 'Blonde Bond' uproar was turned on it's head because DC was brilliant in the role.

Returning just to post this. Then I'm out of here again as I will not stand for the automatic "you're racist" rants.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude I agree that questions are being mixed up here.

Should the OP resign because someone in the office said that Elba was too "street" to play James Bond? No.

Should the OP resign because she is offended by the comments around her? If it's too much to bear, yes, if it's not, stay.

Should a black actor play a white character? No. A black actor can't have a Scottish-Swiss white heritage, it's physically impossible. Characters are developed with a backstory, which informs everything they do and how they react to situations. That is the essence of character formation. Elba's backstory cannot be the same as Bond's, in the same way as a woman's backstory cannot be the same.

If another privately-educated, posh, emotionally-closed secret agent character were created, could Elba play that? No, he is too street. There are other black actors who could play that better. For example, I think a younger Sidney Poitier would have made a superb and beautiful posh, restrained, secret agent.

If another secret agent character was created who was more relaxed and not restrained, more rugged, physically larger and who had a backstory which could be shared and played by actors of a variety of races including those who are black, could Elba play that? Yes, I think he'd be excellent.

Other names on the list (idle googling while I brew up) according to various media:

Tom hardy
Henry cavil
Tom hiddleston
Michael fassbender
Your man who plays poldark
Your man who was whatsit the archer in the hobbit (apologies for my utterly woeful lack of knowledge of these chaps names)
Jamie bell (pretty good in that Washington spy series but not bond...)
James McAvoy..
Damien Lewis (GINGER BOND FOR THE WIN but probably too old...)

I always though Ralph Fiennes would have been good. Probably too old now.

Okay, so Black Panther is a character created by Marvel Comics, and he's black with African heritage. Should we say that he can be played by for example, Jason Statham? Of course not...even though he's fictional too.

Okay, so Black Panther is a character created by Marvel Comics, and he's black with African heritage. Should we say that he can be played by for example, Jason Statham? Of course not...even though he's fictional too.

His whole identity is based on the fact that he's black. Bonds is based on the fact he's a rich posh orphan, not that he's white.

In any care white men are hardly under represented as characters in films are they?

Tom hardy - no too street and gangster ()
Henry cavil- no too buff and good looking
Tom hiddleston - yes. In fact: yes please
Michael fassbender - another 'yes. In fact: yes please.'
Your man who plays poldark- Aidan Thingie? This could work.
Your man who was whatsit the archer in the hobbit (apologies for my utterly woeful lack of knowledge of these chaps names)- also no clue
Jamie bell - no. Too pretty
James McAvoy - could work possibly too old?
Damien Lewis - he'd be good but yes too old

YABU I'd have thought it more classist than racist. Clearly people who don't think it racist are themselves racist according to some on this thread
I would hate a female bond. Just no way. Skin colour is irrelevant, but the actor has to 'fit' i.e. be the right age/not too well known/be able to be perceived as posh etc.
Idris is probably going to be too old by the time DC leaves.

It doesn't sound like you fit into that office environment. But there's a fair bit of twattery in offices IMHO. I doubt you'll find anywhere where there's not one or two issues, can't you just let it wash over you and get on with your job?

Also, can I throw in Robert Pattinson as a Bond potential?

Anatidae "Ahhh John thaw... can I admit to a tiny tiny morse crush? He was fabulous .

I probably didn't get your point uncle jamie - apologies if I misunderstood- I assumed you'd meant he was posh to begin with rather than how well he inhabited the part.

I will be very interested to see who they cast. My money is on tom hiddleston, although I wouldn't cast him per se. I know fassbender is in the running too and I think he's got that icy posh thing going on but he's still not quite bond for me. Both have the feline grace, not sure either has the slightly unique edge that's needed.

Inpersonally think it'd be good to see someone completely new make the part his own. I wasn't sure about Daniel Craig either - not my type, but I think overall he was an ok bond, perhaps because of the tone change in the films."

No worries at all, I'm not sure I explained myself very well to be fair. ☺️

I agree re Craig; this isn't a popular opinion but IMO he was best in Casino Royale, which is the most classic and Fleming-esque Bond film of the modern era. Everything comes together in that, from the story to the Directing and score. When Eon changed to Sam Mendes and he brought in Thomas Newman to compose, they lost that inherent 007 quality.

Anyway, I digress. The point about Connery being "too emotional" is interesting, because in the book of Casino Royale, and of course OHMSS, Bond was emotional. Moore suited the era and the silliness of the films in the 70s but I don't think he was a good enough actor to have suited the earlier films.

Interestingly, while we've all been arguing discussing Bond, the OP seems to have left the thread. Do you think we've de-railed it?

Also, can I throw in Robert Pattinson as a Bond potentiaL

The twighliht guy? Oh god please don't! #shakennotsparkled

hatty NO! You may not. 😂 Far too pretty to be a 00 agent.

No you may not throw him in - he's practically an embryo! (Showing my age...) 😁

I wasn't keen on DC at first. But he suited the bond episodes he was in very well I thought, and worked great with judi Dench - I think casino royale was a brilliant film.

I think op is the racist one assuming too street means black and too gangster also means black

It's debatable if Bond can be black depending if you want to stick to the original character or move away from this. But its a fact white people can be street or gangster.

I couldn't care less, I can't stand idris Elba, he's sweaty and his London twang annoys me. They made felix leiter black in Dr no and he was always described as having a shock of white blonde hair on the books so I doubt they wouldn't cast idris because of his skin colour.

I couldn't care less, I can't stand idris Elba, he's sweaty and his London twang annoys me

That's relevant

If I heard someone say that I would think it was a bit racist and be pretty shocked I think.

I thought he was fab in the wire, as long as he can do posh British as well as American drug dealer he would make a great bond.

Robert Pattinson!!!!

hattyhighlighter it may not be too late: seek help immediately.

"Sweaty"

They made felix leiter black in Dr no

Pretty sure Jack Lord was white. Are you thinking of Jeffrey Wright in Casino Royale? A fabulous Felix Leiter. ❤️

tizzy

surely Idris is not sweaty at all times what a bizarre thing to say

I'd love to see Idris play Bond. I particularly hope to see him in his trunks emerging from the ocean.

[swoon]

Is that sexist?

Could the next James Bond be trans?

Can I vote for Roger Moore?

I think a bit of levity helps.

And I like the being dangled over a pool of sharks type things. And volcano fortresses.

Lazy
Fair point about Roger Moore and the Saint. However, the Saint and James Bond are similar types of character so I don't think the audience would have struggled to accept the move of roles.