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Bond author sorry for saying Idris Elba ‘too street’ for 007

Jewish writer of latest installment in spy novel franchise says he wasn’t referring to Elba’s race, but his past TV roles

By AP 2 September 2015, 2:53 am

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In this file photo photo dated Thursday, Dec. 5, 2013, British actor Idris Elba, who plays Nelson Mandela in the movie "Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom," poses for photographers in London. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham, File)

LONDON — The author of the new James Bond novel apologized on Tuesday after he said that British actor Idris Elba is “too street” to play 007.

In an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper published over the weekend, Anthony Horowitz, the author of the new Bond novel “Trigger Mortis,” said Elba is “too ‘street’ for Bond.”

Elba, 42, has been rumored to be among the actors considered to replace Daniel Craig as the next Bond. He would be the first black actor to play the spy should he be cast.

“Idris Elba is a terrific actor, but I can think of other black actors who would do it better,” Horowitz was quoted saying. “It’s not a color issue … Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.”

Horowitz, a noted Jewish British author, said Tuesday he was thinking of Elba’s gritty detective role in the BBC crime drama “Luther” during the interview, and didn’t mean to cause offense.

“In the article I expressed the opinion that to my mind Adrian Lester would be a better choice but I’m a writer not a casting director so what do I know?” he said in a statement that was posted to his Twitter account.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.