British actor Idris Elba has stated that the James Bond franchise should not be made "woke" and expressed concerns that some global audiences would not accept a black male in the iconic 007 role. While flattered by the persistent rumors linking him to the part, Elba believes Bond "was written how he was written for a reason" and that attempting to alter the character's fundamental nature would be a disservice to its established identity as pure escapism. He elaborated that certain international markets may not embrace a black actor as Bond due to cultural preferences, emphasizing that the character should remain true to his origins rather than conforming to shifting tastes. Elba, who is currently playing Man-at-Arms in "Masters of the Universe," also made a humorous comparison to his latest role's distinctive appearance. Meanwhile, the search for Daniel Craig's successor as James Bond is officially underway, with Amazon confirming that the next film will be directed by Denis Villeneuve and written by Steven Knight, and casting director Nina Gold is reportedly overseeing the process.