John Boyega claims James Bond will NEVER be played by a black person

2022-09-08

‘When you’re black, I don’t know how that goes’: John Boyega claims James Bond will NEVER be played by a person of colour – after reflecting on racist backlash for his role in Star Wars

The iconic character is currently in limbo following Craig’s decision to hang up his tuxedo following a fifth consecutive appearance as Bond
But despite calls for London born Elba to become the seventh 007, fellow actor Boyega has played down the star’s chances
To date Bond has been played by six different actors, all white, across 25 films over a 60 year period – with Sir Sean Connery originally cast in 1962
Since then George Lazenby, Sir Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and more recently Daniel Craig have all taken the role

John Boyega claims there will never be a black James Bond, despite previous calls for Idris Elba to take the role following Daniel Craig’s departure.

The iconic character is currently in limbo following Craig’s decision to hang up his tuxedo after his fifth consecutive appearance as Bond in 2021 blockbuster No Time To Die.

But despite calls for London born Elba – who has since ruled himself out – to become the seventh 007, fellow actor Boyega, 30, claims producer Barbara Broccoli will never cast a person of colour for the role.

Speaking out: John Boyega claims there will never be a black James Bond, despite ongoing calls for Idris Elba to take the role following Daniel Craig’s departure

When asked if her would ever consider playing Bond, he told the Happy Confused Sad podcast: ‘I’m sorry but I’m black – I don’t know how. When you’re black, I don’t know how that goes.

‘You as a white man grew up in a society as a white man and that’s normal. That’s normal to you. Even the mention of a black Bond is like “Oh, okay”.

‘I don’t necessarily believe that but if that’s what they’re doing then that is very surprising to me. As an actor, you kind of just stay out of that conversation. But if it’s for you then maybe. But if not then you just enjoy it in a movie theatre like everyone else.’

To date Bond has been played by six different actors, all white, across 25 films over a 60 year period – with Sir Sean Connery originally cast in 1962 classic Dr. No.

Previously: The iconic character is currently in limbo following Craig’s decision to walk away after his fifth consecutive appearance as Bond in 2021 blockbuster No Time To Die

Since then George Lazenby, Sir Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan and more recently Daniel Craig have all taken the role, with varying degrees of success.

However recent blockbuster No Time To Die, Craig’s last film as Bond, saw black actress Lashana Lynch play a female 007, albeit fleetingly.

Boyega – who made his name on the West End stage – recently claimed he felt like ‘the. elephant in the room’ after being subjected to racist backlash for his portrayal of Finn in the Disney Star Wars trilogy.

Old times: To date Bond has been played by six different actors, all white, across 25 films over a 60 year period – with Sir Sean Connery originally cast in 1962

Stepping in: Australian model George Lazenby took the role for one film only, starring in 1969 classic On Her Majesty’s Secret Service

The British actor played the hero in three films from 2015 to 2019, but went onto reveal he doesn’t think he’ll be playing the character again.

Speaking with John Fugelsang on his Sirius XM radio show, Boyega admitted that when he was trolled it ‘wasn’t a conversation he could being up’ at Disney, but he feels this has changed after they spoke out in support of Obi-Wan Kenobi star Moses Ingram.

Host Fugelsang brought up Moses Ingram, who played Inquisitor Reva in the Star Wars series Obi-Wan Kenobi earlier this year, and was herself subject to racist attacks from trolls online – prompting Disney to defend her across social media.

My turn: Sir Roger Moore played Bond seven times between 1973 and 1985, more than any other actor (pictured in 1981 release For Your Eyes Only)

Getting involved: Timothy Dalton (L) and Pierce Brosnan (R) also played Bond during the late 1980s and ’90s

The money shot: Daniel Craig became Bond number six, starring in five films between 2006 and 2021 (pictured in Casino Royale)

‘That’s how it goes, man. That’s how it goes, but that’s the peace that I felt,’ Boyega said. ‘Moses Ingram being protected makes me feel protected. Do you understand what I’m saying?

‘It makes me feel like, okay, cool. I am not the elephant in the room because when I started it, wasn’t really a conversation you could bring up.

‘You know how they went through it. It was kind of like, let’s just be silent. It wasn’t a conversation you could bring up,’

Contender: There have been calls for Idris Elba to play Bond, despite the actor turning 50 on September 6

Unhappy: Boyega recently claimed he felt like ‘the. elephant in the room’ after being subjected to racist backlash for his portrayal of Finn in the Disney Star Wars trilogy

Claims: Speaking with John Fugelsang on his Sirius XM radio show, Boyega admitted that when he was trolled it ‘wasn’t a conversation he could being up’ at Disney

Hitting back: The actor addressed Disney’s defence of star Moses Ingram, who herself was the subject of racist trolling, insisting it shows the studio has made positive progress

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