Idris Elba has heard the James Bond rumors – but he’s not sure if he fits the criteria to play the super-spy.
Elba took to Twitter on Saturday to voice his thoughts on rumors that he could be the next actor to star as the action hero.
“Isn’t 007 supposed to (be) handsome?” he joked. “Glad you think I’ve got a shot! Happy New year people.”
The British actor’s cheeky response comes after a leaked email written by Sony Pictures exec Amy Pascal revealed she was interested in him for the iconic role after the current Bond, Daniel Craig, leaves the franchise.
“Idris should be the next Bond,” she wrote in a Jan. 4 email, which was among the correspondence leaked in the Sony hacking scandal.
Pascal’s leaked email prompted conservative commentator Rush Limbaugh to object to Elba playing Bond because he felt the character should remain “white and Scottish.”
Even before Pascal’s email was leaked, the “Luther” star has been considered a popular choice to take over the role. During a Reddit AMA chat earlier this year, he was asked if he would like to portray Bond.
“Yes, if it was offered to me, absolutely,” Elba said.
