Hackney's Idris Elba could become the next James Bond

Hackney's Idris Elba could become the first black James Bond, it has been reported. Credit: PA

Hackney's Idris Elba could become the next James Bond, it has been reported.

The Sunday Times (£) said that in an email leaked by hackers, Amy Pascal, the co-chairwoman of Sony Pictures, producer of the franchise, wrote: “Idris should be the new Bond.”

Rumours that Elba, 42, who was born in east London, have rippled across the internet for the past year, and a Facebook group called “We want Idris Elba for James Bond”, set up before the leak, has more than 30,000 likes.

Last month, in an interview Elba claimed not to have been approached but added that he disliked the use of the term “black Bond”.