Idris Elba

Idris Elba might be the best known Bond that never was.

The Luther actor has spent years dodging constant speculation linking him to the franchise, even though he's never been officially offered the role.

In 2022, he told The Guardian that all the rumours were "exhausting", while last month he claimed it wasn't "realistic".

He added to Britain's GQ magazine: "James Bond was written how he was written for a reason. But I was complimented by it.

"And also, I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that. Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] won’t [all] go for a Black male, an African male, playing Bond."