Wednesday, 2 September 2015

Is Idris Elba 'too street' to be James Bond?


Elba has discussed creating an album for Stringer Bell, the entrepreneur-drug dealer he played in HBO's "The Wire." In an NME interview, he admitted he liked the idea of an album inspired by what Bell might have listened to, but as of yet he has no immediate plan in place.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'The Wire' – Elba has discussed creating an album for Stringer Bell, the entrepreneur-drug dealer he played in HBO's "The Wire." In an NME interview, he admitted he liked the idea of an album inspired by what Bell might have listened to, but as of yet he has no immediate plan in place. 
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Elba says he'd like to release an album inspired by Luther, the detective he plays in the show of the same name. <br />"There's lots of negativity within that character and his world, and there's a certain amount of relatability you have to have to play those roles that I can't really express in an interview but can certainly express through music," said Elba.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'Luther' – Elba says he'd like to release an album inspired by Luther, the detective he plays in the show of the same name. 
"There's lots of negativity within that character and his world, and there's a certain amount of relatability you have to have to play those roles that I can't really express in an interview but can certainly express through music," said Elba.
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Elba played the commanding Stacker Pentecost in the Guillermo del Toro-directed sci-fi flick "Pacific Rim." Though Elba hasn't expressed any interest in creating an album for that character, we'd imagine that it would have a strong, authoritative presence. Elba says the albums are based not just on what the character would listen to but on the thoughts he had in playing each character.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'Pacific Rim' – Elba played the commanding Stacker Pentecost in the Guillermo del Toro-directed sci-fi flick "Pacific Rim." Though Elba hasn't expressed any interest in creating an album for that character, we'd imagine that it would have a strong, authoritative presence. Elba says the albums are based not just on what the character would listen to but on the thoughts he had in playing each character.
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Elba revived his role as Heimdall from "Thor" in the latest Avengers movie. However, he says he is more likely to create a character album for "Beast of No Nation," slated for release in October. That film was filmed in Ghana and is about child soldiers. <br />"It's a point of view I want to take -- not from the character I played but the characters he manipulated," Elba said. He imagines having a lot of child voices singing on the album.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'Thor' – Elba revived his role as Heimdall from "Thor" in the latest Avengers movie. However, he says he is more likely to create a character album for "Beast of No Nation," slated for release in October. That film was filmed in Ghana and is about child soldiers. 
"It's a point of view I want to take -- not from the character I played but the characters he manipulated," Elba said. He imagines having a lot of child voices singing on the album.
Hide Caption
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Who's going to be the next James Bond? Well, it's unlikely to be Idris Elba. The writer of the new Bond novel set off a social media firestorm with a comment that the British actor is <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/01/entertainment/idris-elba-bond-anthony-horowitz-feat/index.html">"too street" to play the suave spy</a>.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
Who's going to be the next James Bond? Well, it's unlikely to be Idris Elba. The writer of the new Bond novel set off a social media firestorm with a comment that the British actor is "too street" to play the suave spy.
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Actor, singer and producer Idris Elba is the first male cover model for Maxim magazine.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
Actor, singer and producer Idris Elba is the first male cover model for Maxim magazine. 
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Golden Globe-winning actor Idris Elba put out an album, "Mi Mandela," about his experience playing Nelson Mandela in the 2013 biopic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom." It was the first in a series of "character albums" he plans.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' – Golden Globe-winning actor Idris Elba put out an album, "Mi Mandela," about his experience playing Nelson Mandela in the 2013 biopic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom." It was the first in a series of "character albums" he plans.
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Elba has discussed creating an album for Stringer Bell, the entrepreneur-drug dealer he played in HBO's "The Wire." In an NME interview, he admitted he liked the idea of an album inspired by what Bell might have listened to, but as of yet he has no immediate plan in place.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'The Wire' – Elba has discussed creating an album for Stringer Bell, the entrepreneur-drug dealer he played in HBO's "The Wire." In an NME interview, he admitted he liked the idea of an album inspired by what Bell might have listened to, but as of yet he has no immediate plan in place. 
Hide Caption
4 of 7
Elba says he'd like to release an album inspired by Luther, the detective he plays in the show of the same name. <br />"There's lots of negativity within that character and his world, and there's a certain amount of relatability you have to have to play those roles that I can't really express in an interview but can certainly express through music," said Elba.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'Luther' – Elba says he'd like to release an album inspired by Luther, the detective he plays in the show of the same name. 
"There's lots of negativity within that character and his world, and there's a certain amount of relatability you have to have to play those roles that I can't really express in an interview but can certainly express through music," said Elba.
Hide Caption
5 of 7
Elba played the commanding Stacker Pentecost in the Guillermo del Toro-directed sci-fi flick "Pacific Rim." Though Elba hasn't expressed any interest in creating an album for that character, we'd imagine that it would have a strong, authoritative presence. Elba says the albums are based not just on what the character would listen to but on the thoughts he had in playing each character.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'Pacific Rim' – Elba played the commanding Stacker Pentecost in the Guillermo del Toro-directed sci-fi flick "Pacific Rim." Though Elba hasn't expressed any interest in creating an album for that character, we'd imagine that it would have a strong, authoritative presence. Elba says the albums are based not just on what the character would listen to but on the thoughts he had in playing each character.
Hide Caption
6 of 7
Elba revived his role as Heimdall from "Thor" in the latest Avengers movie. However, he says he is more likely to create a character album for "Beast of No Nation," slated for release in October. That film was filmed in Ghana and is about child soldiers. <br />"It's a point of view I want to take -- not from the character I played but the characters he manipulated," Elba said. He imagines having a lot of child voices singing on the album.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'Thor' – Elba revived his role as Heimdall from "Thor" in the latest Avengers movie. However, he says he is more likely to create a character album for "Beast of No Nation," slated for release in October. That film was filmed in Ghana and is about child soldiers. 
"It's a point of view I want to take -- not from the character I played but the characters he manipulated," Elba said. He imagines having a lot of child voices singing on the album.
Hide Caption
7 of 7
Who's going to be the next James Bond? Well, it's unlikely to be Idris Elba. The writer of the new Bond novel set off a social media firestorm with a comment that the British actor is <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/01/entertainment/idris-elba-bond-anthony-horowitz-feat/index.html">"too street" to play the suave spy</a>.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
Who's going to be the next James Bond? Well, it's unlikely to be Idris Elba. The writer of the new Bond novel set off a social media firestorm with a comment that the British actor is "too street" to play the suave spy.
Hide Caption
1 of 7
Actor, singer and producer Idris Elba is the first male cover model for Maxim magazine.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
Actor, singer and producer Idris Elba is the first male cover model for Maxim magazine. 
Hide Caption
2 of 7
Golden Globe-winning actor Idris Elba put out an album, "Mi Mandela," about his experience playing Nelson Mandela in the 2013 biopic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom." It was the first in a series of "character albums" he plans.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' – Golden Globe-winning actor Idris Elba put out an album, "Mi Mandela," about his experience playing Nelson Mandela in the 2013 biopic "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom." It was the first in a series of "character albums" he plans.
Hide Caption
3 of 7
Elba has discussed creating an album for Stringer Bell, the entrepreneur-drug dealer he played in HBO's "The Wire." In an NME interview, he admitted he liked the idea of an album inspired by what Bell might have listened to, but as of yet he has no immediate plan in place.
7 photos: Idris Elba: Singing the part
'The Wire' – Elba has discussed creating an album for Stringer Bell, the entrepreneur-drug dealer he played in HBO's "The Wire." In an NME interview, he admitted he liked the idea of an album inspired by what Bell might have listened to, but as of yet he has no immediate plan in place. 
Hide Caption
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01 Idris Elba FILE
idris elba maxim september 2015 cover
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Story highlights


Aaron Paxton Arnold, an entrepreneur and lifestyle consultant, is the founder of MusicIsMyBusiness. He's written for publications such as Forbes and Fast Company. Follow him on Twitter: @MrMIMB. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author. 
(CNN)Should Hollywood star Idris Elba be the next James Bond? 
Not according to Anthony Horowitz, who's writing a new book in the Bond series. He was quoted by the Daily Mail saying Elba is "probably a bit too 'street' for Bond," claiming it's a matter of him not being "suave." When I heard that, I laughed and naively thought to myself, "He's probably being facetious, right?" 
Not suave enough or "too street"? The guy (Elba) has only graced the covers of Essence, GQ and most recently Maxim magazine — being the first man to appear on a Maxim cover. He couldn't be talking about the guy who women adore and lust over, including my own mother (sorry, Mom, for telling your business), who describes him as beautiful.
But after going online and examining the comments further, I went from laughing to feeling a deep sting. And not because I have known Elba personally and found him to be one of the most humble people you'll meet as well as a committed father. 
As a fan of the James Bond franchise (my favorites being Roger Moore, Sean Connery and Daniel Craig), I think Elba would be an awesome Bond because his body of work is as wide-ranging as that of any actor (black or white). 
    From playing Stringer Bell in "The Wire" to Nelson Mandela in "Mandela" to his upcoming role in "Star Trek," Elba's work is as diverse as a bag of Skittles and definitely more so than any actor who has played James Bond — no disrespect to Daniel Craig. Even the public has recognized this, showing their support by petitioning for him to be the next Bond. 
    Horowitz apologized Tuesday after his remarks came under criticism, saying, "I admit it was a poor choice of word. I am mortified to have caused offense."
    Ultimately, his initial comment didn't sting because of James Bond, it stung because it was a reminder of how the world isn't changing fast enough when it comes to the stereotyping and typecasting of people of color. It stung because it echoes the sentiment of not just Hollywood, but also corporate America and even sports. 
    His statement was a reminder that whether you're an actor or accountant, if you're a person of color, there are those who feel you should stay in your lane. And despite the recent breakthroughs in Hollywood and indie films, corporate America and even the White House, for people of color, there's still an enforced stigma that we are supposed to act, walk, talk, like and think a certain way. 
    Writer says Idris Elba 'too street' to play James Bond
    Idris Elba 'too street' for James Bond, writer says
    It stings, just like I am sure it did for black quarterbacks in the '70s, '80s and early '90s. National Football League teams would draft a black college quarterback and convert him to a defensive back or wide receiver. Not because the black quarterback wasn't good enough but due to racist ways of thinking, the player was said to be not cerebral enough to handle the position. That theory has since been disproved time and time again via black QBs: Doug Williams (Super Bowl winner), Warren Moon, Steve McNair, Russell Wilson (Super Bowl winner), and Cam Newton to name a few. 
    Recently, star actress and artist Zoey Kravitz, who has over 1 million followers on Instagram, discussed the platforms and mediums generally reserved for white actors. In the August issue of Nylon magazine, Kravitz talked about her experience when she went to audition for a small role in the "The Dark Knight Rises." She said, "They told me that I couldn't get an audition for a small role they were casting because they weren't 'going urban. ... It was like, 'What does that have to do with anything?' I have to play the role like, 'Yo, what's up, Batman? What's going on wit chu?" 
    Then there was the outcry of angry fans when it was announced that African-American actor and former "The Wire" and "Fruitvale Station" star Michael B. Jordan would be playing "The Human Torch" in Marvel Comics' upcoming "Fantastic Four" film, formerly played by white actors and who was also white in the comic book. Jordan was met with a spate of racist criticism but eloquently responded in an Entertainment Weekly piece titled "Why I'm Torching the Color Line." 
    "Some people may look at my casting as political correctness or an attempt to meet a racial quota, or as part of the year of 'Black Film.' Or they could look at it as a creative choice by the director, Josh Trank, who is in an interracial relationship himself — a reflection of what a modern family looks like today," Jordan said.
    So I say to Horowitz, who is indeed a brilliant writer, is Sean Connery, the original James Bond, too street? I hope you think so, because Sean Connery is known for defending hitting women and proudly admitted it in a Barbara Walters interview in the 1980s saying, "I haven't changed my opinion (regarding hitting women). No. Not at all. I don't think it's bad, and I think it depends entirely on the circumstances, and if it merits it. If you have tried everything else -- and women are pretty good at this -- when they can't leave it alone and want to have the last word, then you give them the last word. But they're not happy with having the last word, they want to say it again and get into a really provocative situation. Then, I think it's absolutely right." 

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