James Bond: Idris Elba SPEAKS OUT again on replacing Daniel Craig rumours

Last week the 45-year-old star threw James Bond fans into a frenzy after responding to rumours he would likely replace Craig as 007.

He tweeted: “My name’s Elba, Idris Elba.”

Could this be proof he will become the first black Bond after Craig’s final outing next year?

After all, the star is now the bookies’ favourite to replace the incumbent with odds of 2/1, even topping Tom Hardy.

However in the last 24 hours Elba appears to have revealed he was merely joking.

His latest tweet reads: “Don’t believe the HYPE.”

The source of the rumours was director Antoine Fuqua, who told the Daily Star that Bond producer Barbara Broccoli now thinks “it is time” for a non-white 007.

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

While Broccoli 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, doesn’t hit cinemas until late 2019.

With filming yet to begin in December, why would the producer be looking at his replacement this early?

There’s also the fact that Elba is already 45-years-old, perhaps too old to take up the License to Kill.

While Roger Moore was that age when he shot his first Bond movie, Live and Let Die, it’s much more likely the Bond producer will look for someone in the their mid-to-late 30s.

That’s how old Craig was when he filmed Casino Royale, an age more in line with Ian Fleming’s character in the books.

Perhaps Henry Cavill will have a chance then, after all he came second to Craig back in 2006.