ABC/Rick Rowell(LONDON) — After Idris Elba had the nerve to decline becoming the first black James Bond — and even made light of it during his Saturday Night Live hosting gig — another black British actor has decided to step up to the plate.
In an interview with The Times UK, David Oyelowo said he’s be open to fill the shoes of the iconic 007 role.
“The significance of someone like me playing a role like James Bond is not lost on me,” he said. “It is going to be something that will expand horizons.”
He continued, “One of the most beautiful things I have seen in America on Halloween is white kids running around in Black Panther costumes.”
Taking a moment to reflect on his own childhood, Oyelowo added, “I did not have a superhero to identify with growing up on a council estate in Islington. It was all Superman.”
If he were to be cast as the suave super-spy, this wouldn’t be the first time that Oyelowo made history in his acting roles. The Selma actor became the first black actor to play an English king in productions of Henry VI, parts I, II, and III by the Royal Shakespeare company.
Now, looking ahead, Oyelowo says becoming James Bond could easily become a reality today.
“When I was at drama school, the idea of a Black James Bond was so far removed from everyone’s thinking,” he said. “We are talking about real progress. Society is beginning to tell the industries what they want to see.”
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