Idris Elba as James Bond? Movie bosses say 'it is time' for non-white 007

Equaliser 2 director Antoini Fuqua was speaking at the launch of SoundFi, his latest business venture, when he revealed the news, according to the Daily Express.

During the launch, Fuqua recounted an earlier conversation he had with the producer the Bond films, Barbara Broccoli. 

The two reportedly discussed who would take over after Daniel Craig, 50, retires.

“I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet but we just now have Black Panther so it takes a while sometimes to make change happen. 

The director says Broccoli feels “it is time” for a non-white actor to take up the role and the casting of a non-white actor will “happen eventually”.

“Idris could do it if he was in shape. You need a guy with physically strong presence. Idris has that,” Fuqua said of the 45-year-old actor.

There have been 26 film Bonds since the franchise started in 1962 with Sean Connery playing the secret agent in Dr. No. 

If selected, Elba would be the first non-white actor to take over the role.

Craig is set to retire after the next Bond film, which will be directed by Danny Boyle and is slated for release on November 8 2019.

MGM said of the new movie: "We couldn’t be more thrilled than to bring the next 007 adventure to the big screen, uniting the incomparable Daniel Craig with the extraordinary vision of Danny Boyle.”

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