Next James Bond ‘will be a person of colour’ after Daniel Craig exit

The TV executive went on to tell the publication: “I think the days of a white Bond are over. You could look to the recent casting of Doctor Who as a bellwether in that respect.

“I’d be particularly surprised if it was a white, clipped, upper middle class English actor. That would be a bold move but I think it would be suicidal for the Broccoli franchise.” (sic)

Another executive went on to disagree, however, adding they “would be surprised if Bond wasn’t white”.

The first executive suggested that Elba may have been the best option for the role, but added that his time has been and gone.

Elba, at the time of writing, still has an incredible set of odds from Ladbrokes with 14/1 on claiming the 007 role.

However, considering Elba is already 50-years-old, his chances may have been and gone; especially considering the Bond bosses Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson have already confirmed they are looking for a new actor to embody Bond for years to come.

With that said, the Bond bosses have already confirmed the next James Bond can be played by an actor of any colour.

Broccoli told The Hollywood Reporter: “He should be British, so British can be any [ethnicity or race]. I think one of the successes of Bond is that it isn’t afraid to change with the times. Sometimes it got a little stuck in the time, but the books were written in the ’50s, the films started in the ’60s. I mean, the world has changed dramatically since then. We’ve just had to constantly reinvent him, and we’ve had the opportunity with each new actor to recalibrate the series.”

And there are some major actors of colour in the Bond odds at the moment. Ladbrokes places British star Regé-Jean Page at 8/1, while Sope Dirisu has 16/1.

Riz Ahmed is also in the running with a staggering 33/1, while Chiwetel Ejiofor has 40/1 at the moment.

Leading the charge, however, is still James Norton, of Happy Valley fame, with 7/4 odds on claiming the role.

Ladbrokes’ Alex Apati said of the odds: “Punters are starting to lean towards James Norton once again in the race to replace Daniel Craig, and we’ve been forced to slash his odds as a result… so much so that he now heads the betting.”