John Boyega, speaking after Daniel Craig's departure in No Time to Die, gives his reasons for not wanting to be the next James Bond.
Boyega, John
In this case, James Bond
John Boyega explains why he does not believe he will replace Daniel Craig as James Bond.
The Bond film series has been a box office hit since its inception in the early 1960s, and a number of actors have since played the iconic role.
For Daniel Craig, who took over the role of James Bond in Casino Royale in 2006, his final film as Bond was 2016's No Time to Die.
The film's conclusion marked a first for the series, as Bond heroically gave his life to protect his loved ones and the world.
It has been speculated upon who would succeed Daniel Craig as James Bond ever since his final departure from the series.
Tom Hardy, Tom Hiddleston, Idris Elba, and Richard Madden were all frequently fan-cast as James Bond before Daniel Craig left the series.
The next Bond will be a "complete reinvention," as stated by producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, but the identity of the actors competing for the role remains a mystery.
One month after expressing interest in playing James Bond, Boyega now reveals why he thinks it's highly unlikely that he would get the role.
Correspondingly, Does James Bond's Age Really Matter in 2022?
Boyega initially resists the idea of aggressively contending for the role of Bond, citing his race as a big factor, in a recent interview on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast.
The actor reveals that he is suspicious of any Black actor playing Bond and that it would be "extremely unexpected" to him if the company went that path.
Read on for Boyega's entire response to a question about the role:
"I'm sorry, but I can't help it; I'm Black.
I don't know how things work out when you're Black.
Since you are a white male, it is natural for you to have experienced life primarily through the lens of your race.
For you, that's the norm.
The term "Black Bond" makes me go "Oh, OK."
Just saying: yeah, I don't necessarily believe it, but if that's what they're doing, then okay, that is extremely shocking to me."
Despite the franchise's 60 years of existence and the dozens of actors who have played Bond over the years, all of them have been white guys.
Although No Time to Die broke new ground by casting Lashana Lynch as the first Black and first female to adopt the 007 designations, only white men have ever portrayed James Bond on screen.
Boyega's comments reflect his scepticism, but they also come as fans have urged Elba to play the role despite the actor's lack of enthusiasm.
Producers have stated that the next Bond film will be a "totally new depiction of the character," leaving the door open for the first time for an actor of a non-white ethnicity to play the role.
Lynch's inclusion in No Time To Die was a significant step toward increasing the franchise's diversity, but it is uncertain if the actor would reprise his role in future instalments.
Boyega has expressed serious doubts about being selected as James Bond, but he hasn't walked back his enthusiasm in the job, so he's still in the running.
