Luther legend Idris Elba has made his feelings clear about a potential James Bond role as he opens up to the Mirror about what the future holds for him and his family
17:00, 01 Nov 2025Updated 17:04, 01 Nov 2025
Actor Idris Elba has responded to James Bond rumours
With all eyes on who will be the next James Bond, one name keeps returning to the conversation – Idris Elba. The long-awaited call for who will take on the iconic British Secret Service agent could be nearing its end with fans of the franchise desperate to discover who’ll take the baton from Daniel Craig.
The next 007 actor has been up in the air since Craig’s departure in 2021 following an impressive performance in No Time To Die. And with filming for Bond 26 slated to start in 2027 ahead of a 2028 release, Elba has, rather sadly, poured cold water on rumours he will be getting suited and booted for the role.
Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, the 53-year-old star shot down any hopes of him ever doing Bond, claiming age is against him. “I can’t believe I am still being asked this at 53!” he said.
The actor has seen his name constantly put forward for Bond(Image: Getty Images for BAFTA)
Fans have been waiting to see if Idris will take over from Daniel Craig(Image: Getty Images)
“When you sign up to Bond you sign up for a decade of making films, often a bit longer. Nobody wants to see Bond running around in his mid 60’s!”
The links came after Elba’s hugely impressive career that spans decades. Most notably, perhaps, was his portrayal of the brilliant-yet-troubled homicide detective, Luther.
While the series hit its heights on BBC at the start of its nine-year initial stint in 2010, it later moved over to streaming giants Netflix, where its popularity continued to surge.
As well as five gripping series, Elba starred in a sequel movie in 2023, Luther: The Fallen Sun. And while he shunned Bond, he has now teased he could be ready to pick up his stylish long grey trench coat in the future.
“Luther is the character I have played the longest it’s probably the character that takes the most out of me,” he admitted. “It takes such concentration to play Luther, he is so complex, and that’s why I love playing him because he takes me to places I haven’t been before.
“There is nothing to report at the moment, but I don’t think I am ready to say I have hung up his coat just yet.”
His success doesn’t just stop in Blighty and with Luther, for which he won a Golden Globe Award in 2012, either. The acclaimed actor has proven to be a big hit stateside, too, classing the likes of John Cena and Keanu Reeves as his close pals.
He has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Heimdall in movies such as Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War. He also starred in the Fast & Furious franchise spin-off Hobbs & Shaw.
Other notable flicks include The Suicide Squad, while he voiced Chief Bogo in popular kids’ film Zootopia.
Despite his emphatic rise to fame and new glitzy lifestyle across the pond, Elba continues to fly the flag for Britain. The Hackney and East Ham native has stayed true to his roots and is even working with King Charles III.
He was a part of a new documentary about the King’s Trust, something he labelled “amazing”. It comes after Elba’s vital work to try to eradicate knife crime. His extensive campaign work has seen him create a documentary titled Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, in which the actor learned the harrowing stories of some of those affected by the horrific crime.
He told us of his latest work with the Monarch: “If we are going to divert kids away from knife crime – we have to be able to offer them opportunities that they haven’t so far been getting. The King’s Trust does some incredible work, and we have to create these partnerships that get kids off the street.”
He went on: “There is a moral duty, knife crime is not just a criminal issue – it affects so many walks of life. Grieving families, overcrowding in prisons, problems in the school system. We have to get to the route of the issue – that’s the only way we are going to see real change.”
Elba explained how becoming a father honed his passion for raising awareness on the issue. “People are so quick to talk about punishment and a minimum prison sentence, but it’s about diverting these kids away at a much younger age before they even think about picking up a knife.”
It’s not just Charles who Elba has worked with from the Royal Family. The man of many talents was also the DJ at Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018.
Taking to the decks at their Frogmore House reception, he previously described it as one of the highlights of his life. Speaking to Lorraine in 2019, he even name dropped some of Meghan’s song requests – Whitney Houston’s I Want to Dance with Somebody and Dr. Dre’s Still D.R.E.
And he has nothing but praise and admiration for the pair following their decision step away from royal duties.
“They have a voice and they are using it,” he told us before calling their work “amazing”. “They are a great couple, and whenever we have met them they are just fun people to be around,” Elba added.
While his future antics may not see him don Bond’s suave tuxedo, he says he has much more left in his pipeline. However, he is hopeful a lot of his future projects will also involve his wife, Sabrina.
The duo have been married since 2019 and is the actor’s third marriage. While the pair don’t have kids together, Elba shares two children, Isan and Winston, from previous relationships
Speaking of his desire to work closely with his family in the future, he said: “Personally and professionally I would love to do more projects with my wife.
“We have our skincare range, and if the right opportunities come up I want to do more with my wife who luckily also happens to be my best friend. Then of course you want your kids to be happy. I have always said I don’t mind what paths they choose to go down, as long as it’s their path and they are doing something they are passionate about.”
READ MORE: Billy Ocean resale tickets are out now for massive summer tour
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.