Suave, debonaire, and an impeccable dresser: these are all requirements to be cast as our favourite spy, 007. David Oyelowo has all these things in spades, and he’s not half bad at playing a spy, either, given his three year tenure on Spooks (MI5 for international audiences).  He is a classically trained stage actor and has experience in voice acting thanks, primarily, to his stint as Agent Kallus on Star Wars Rebels. American readers will likely recognise him most as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in the film, Selma. Next, he’ll step in the shoes of Craig, Brosnan, and Connery and take on the iconic role as James Bond. Oyelowo announced:

I am officially the only person on planet Earth who can legitimately say, ‘I am the new James Bond.’ Even saying that name is the cinematic equivalent of doing the ‘to be or not to be’ speech.

For all of you counting on your fingers, you’re right: this IS the first time a black man has been chosen to portray James Bond. The bad news is that he will only be taking up the role in the new audiobook, Trigger Mortis, written by Anthony Horowitz. The good news is, for all of you campaigning to see an Idris Elba 007, that is still within the realm of the possible.  You’re in good company, too, as Oyelowo, himself, thinks Elba would be great in the role:

A titan on screen, he has all the qualities that you’d want in a James Bond. Because films and TV affect culture, a black Bond would be a cultural event. A statement… beyond just entertainment.

My thoughts are that the Fleming estate has hand-picked such a talented and well-respected black actor for the role because they know that, in addition to Oyelowo likely knocking the performance out of the park, it would also inch open the doors for a black 007 on film, whether played by Elba or someone else.

Who would you like to see as the next film Bond after Daniel Craig leaves the role? Would you like to see David Oyelowo jump to the film franchise?  Watch the fake (but brilliant) trailer for an Idris Elba-led Spectre below, and then give me your casting suggestions and theories in the comments!