James Bond: Why Idris Elba is NOT about to be announced as Daniel Craig's 007 replacement

The incumbent 007 still has James Bond 25 to shoot starting this December, in time for an October 2019 release date.

However thoughts are already looking ahead to who will replace Craig.

Last week director Antoine Fuqua claimed James Bond producer Barbara Broccoli wants a non-white actor after the 50-year-old star bows out.

Antoine said: “Idris could do it if he was in shape. You need a guy with physically strong presence. Idris has that.”

And while Bond producers may have actors in mind to replace Craig, there’s no way that casting will be underway until at least 2020.

After all Bond 25, Craig’s fifth and final outing, is still 15 months away so EON productions will be heavily focused on that.

Apart from the scheduling, Elba may be too old now to cast for Bond 26.

He’d be pushing 50, the age Craig is now, by the time he debuted as 007.

Sure, Roger Moore was 45 when he took over from Sean Connery, but Elba’s already an established star.

Think back to when Craig was announced as the new Bond in 2005. He was no A-lister. He was “that guy” from Layer Cake and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider.

Whoever the next Bond is, whatever their skin-colour, should be a relatively unknown actor and at least under 40-years-old.

Daniel Craig’s James Bond 25 will be released in UK cinemas in October 2019.