Idris Elba, best known for his acclaimed roles in ‘Luther’ and ‘The Wire’, is setting the record straight on one of Hollywood’s most persistent rumours. The actor, 53, has claimed he has never been in serious contention to play James Bond, despite years of speculation surrounding his potential casting as the iconic spy. The comments came as Elba stepped out for the premiere of his new film ‘Masters of the Universe’ in Los Angeles.Speaking with PEOPLE at the event, Elba was asked how he felt about his name being thrown out as a potential star of the upcoming 007 reboot. “My name’s not getting thrown out, no way,” he replied. “They’re going younger. And I wish them all the luck of the world. I can’t wait, it’s going to be amazing.” He added, “I’m honestly not in the race ever. I wasn’t in the race in the first place.”

Idris Elba on the James Bond rumours and why they turned ‘off-putting’

This is not the first time Elba has addressed the speculation. In 2023, while appearing on the ‘Smartless’ podcast hosted by Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, he spoke more candidly about his feelings on the matter. While he described being “super complimented” by the rumours, he also explained why the experience ultimately left a sour taste.“Being asked to be James Bond was like, ‘Okay, you’ve sort of reached the pinnacle,’” he said at the time. “Essentially, it was a huge compliment that every corner of the world, except for some corners which we will not talk about, were really happy about the idea that I could be considered.” He added, “Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense, and I got the brunt of it.”Elba’s name first entered the Bond conversation in a significant way when a leaked 2014 email from a film executive revealed she felt he “should be the next Bond.” The role was last played by Daniel Craig in 2021’s ‘No Time To Die’, with previous Bond actors including Sean Connery, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan and Timothy Dalton among others.

Idris Elba on his new film ‘Masters of the Universe’

With Bond firmly off the table, Elba is currently focused on his latest project, ‘Masters of the Universe’, a fantasy action film centred around the hero He-Man. Elba plays Duncan, one of He-Man’s closest allies, and revealed at the premiere that the franchise holds a special place in his childhood memories.“‘Masters of the Universe’ was my thing,” he said. “It was something that I watched a lot as a kid. To get to play Duncan and change him, make him look like me, was a real treat. I got to be a bit comedic and big, so I went for it.”He also touched on the physical demands the role placed on him. “I’ve done quite a few action films over the last three years. Some a little bit more cerebral action, like ‘Hijack’, but this has been a lot of fighting. I have to stay in shape so I can run and punch,” he said.As for who will ultimately take on the role of Bond in the upcoming reboot, no official casting announcement has been made. The search for the next 007 continues, with the franchise yet to confirm its leading man.