By Robert Scucci
| Published 5 seconds ago

This past weekend, I celebrated my birthday by going to see The Book of Mormon for the first time at The Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC). My wife bought us tickets, which I have not looked up the price for because I don’t want to have a heart attack, and I finally checked off the last box I needed to earn the best kind of bragging rights: to the best of my knowledge, I’ve finally seen every single project that Trey Parker and Matt Stone have their names attached to.

I have my own La-Z-Boy BASEketball (also a gift from my wife), and I fall asleep to the sound of the South Park DVD mini-commentaries more than I’d ever care to admit publicly. I’ve watched all of their college skits, and even the ill-fated and short-lived Princess series that the duo animated with Macromedia Flash.

The one thing that was missing from my life was The Book of Mormon, and for a pretty stupid reason. When the musical premiered in 2011, I was fresh out of college (read: broke) and starting to do that whole “career” thing (read: trying to move out of my parents’ house). So what it comes down to is that I’m cheap, and even though I would take the occasional trip to NYC to play shows with my bands, I never jumped at the opportunity to see the damn thing until this past Sunday.

I’m overjoyed to report that, as somebody who will blindly consume everything Trey Parker and Matt Stone put out, I’m more than willing to forget about Seasons 27 and 28 of South Park because The Book of Mormon is their magnum opus, and it’s not even close. The version of the play I saw didn’t feature any of the original cast, but the production was such a well-oiled machine that I don’t think that matters much. The songs hit hard, the jokes lit up the room with laughter, and I’ve never had so much fun cackling at other people’s misfortune because it’s all framed so wholesomely.

All About Mormons

This is where I come clean and admit that I’ve never attended the theater outside of the occasional high school trip when I was in the symphonic band and got dragged to the opera or symphony while competing. I was relieved when my wife told me I didn’t need to wear a tie or anything like that, and even more stoked when I found out I could order a hot dog and a Diet Coke for a nominal fee. The theater itself was beyond efficient. The only comparison I have in recent memory is a typical movie theater trip, where the concession line could potentially take you away from the film you’re trying to see for a not insignificant amount of time.

TPAC has a firm cutoff for stragglers, which worried me, but to their credit, they belted out concessions like nobody’s business. After looking for parking during CMA Fest (we gave ourselves plenty of time, relax), we were getting down to the wire.

The play itself is exactly what you’d expect from Trey Parker and Matt Stone. If you’re a longtime fan of South Park, you already know exactly what they think about the Mormons after watching the Season 7 episode “All About Mormons” (dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb-dumb!). The thesis presented in that episode is a simple one: the religion itself is often criticized for claiming that Jesus Christ visited the Americas, and that its scripture came from golden plates that only Joseph Smith could see and translate. It doesn’t hold up to scrutiny, but the flip side is that Mormons are also considered some of the kindest and most wholesome people you’ll ever meet, so that’s the tradeoff.

The Book of Mormon pushes this sentiment to extremes when the young, naive, and idealistic Elder Price and Elder Cunningham are shipped off to their first two-year mission assignment. Elder Price is dead set on going to Orlando, Florida, but as luck would have it, he’s paired with Cunningham, an emotionally immature pathological liar who means well but can’t help getting himself into heaps of trouble when left unsupervised.

They quickly learn that they weren’t adequately trained to handle the very real, very deadly problems awaiting them in Uganda, where a warlord named General Butt-F*cking-Naked rules with an iron fist and everybody fears for their lives. It’s a perfect odd-couple, coming-of-age story that uses the Mormon religion as its vehicle to show the insurmountable odds stacked against these young missionaries, and how they handle them as two kids from Utah who have, up until this point, lived very sheltered lives.

It Holds Up, Even If I’ve Never Seen It Before

My biggest fear going into The Book of Mormon for the first time was whether the humor would still land. Generally speaking, most things that were considered irreverent or offensive just a few years ago seem tame by today’s standards, especially when they’re rooted in topical humor. It’s the reason I think South Park’s most recent run may have been funny in the moment but won’t hold up 10 years from now as anything worth revisiting.

Heck, in the South Park documentary, 6 Days to Air, Matt Stone commented on the show’s early seasons and compared them to Yo Gabba Gabba! when discussing what they’re allowed to get away with now. With that in mind, my enthusiasm was guarded, but the conflicts presented in The Book of Mormon are not only as old as time, they’re universal. There is still civil unrest in developing countries, and young men and women still do missionary work, meaning the entire premise holds up without feeling dated.

As for the humor itself, it’s shocking how many different people were into The Book of Mormon. Songs like “Hasa Diga Eebowai” hilariously, and profanely, spell out the kinds of perils the characters face in Uganda, but then you get naively wholesome songs like “Sal Tlay Ka Siti,” which is all about starting fresh in the elusive and mythical paradise known as Salt Lake City, Utah. There’s really something for everybody here so long as you don’t mind a gratuitous amount of curse words peppered through each song and dance number. 

Understudy Didn’t Break The Illusion

Between Act I and Act II, the role of Elder Cunningham was swapped out, and we were told over the loudspeakers that Jacob Aune would be replaced by Keith Gruber for the remainder of the musical. For what reason? I don’t know. Aune was magnetic, and his boisterous presence and enthusiasm for messing everything up for Elder Price (Ethan Davenport) never felt phoned in. I wondered if he fell ill or something because, if he was fighting off whatever caused the change, I couldn’t tell at all.

Honestly, the set changes were so efficient, even with the lights completely killed at times between musical numbers, that I wondered if Aune had been injured while everybody was shuffling around backstage and had to be swapped out quickly, though I’m only guessing here. His understudy, despite having brown hair instead of red and a noticeably different build, didn’t miss a beat. I’m no expert, but when one of the leads is swapped out right before his character’s big number, “Making Things Up Again,” and the show continues without a single hiccup, I’ll always be impressed.

It was also a treat to see two very talented individuals portray the same character, which allowed me to see what each performer brought to the table and how they contributed to the overall show. I’m calling this experience a treat because I’m notoriously cheap, and this will probably be the only time I venture out to see The Book of Mormon. I felt like I got a two-for-one deal!

The Book of Mormon was everything I thought it would be, and it may very well be Trey Parker and Matt Stone’s crowning achievement. Just like the most timeless South Park episodes, the musical doesn’t lean on topical humor, and its jokes will still land another 15 years from now. I watched elderly women laugh their asses off at jokes about maggots living in a poor Ugandan’s scrotum, and people my age cover their mouths when Elder Cunningham finally converts Nabulungi after essentially telling her that Mormonism is Star Wars.

I got lost twice looking for the bathroom line during intermission, and at one point I spit up my Diet Coke during “Hello! (Reprise)” toward the end of the musical. Don’t worry, I caught it in my shirt, and nobody was harmed.

If you’re like me and hate crowded places but love all things Trey Parker and Matt Stone, you owe it to yourself to check out The Book of Mormon, which is currently running shows all over the country as part of its 15th anniversary celebration.

Diamond Brown is calling Chris Brown an “IG Dad” while airing out their alleged text messages.

RELATED: Oop! Diamond Brown Seemingly Throws Shade At Chris Brown Amid Him Reportedly Responding To Her Paternity & Custody Suit

Diamond Brown Calls Chris Brown An “IG Dad” While Airing OUT Their Alleged Text Messages

On Tuesday, June 9, Diamond Brown took to her now-deleted Instagram account to share a few posts to her Story. Furthermore, the posts showed alleged screenshots with a contact identified as “CB.” In an initial text, dated February 18, she wrote that he does not control her or have a say in her personal relationships. Subsequently, she explained that he has his own life and a baby on the way. Ultimately, she told the singer to focus on consistently showing up for his children and keeping their communication strictly to co-parenting.

On March 26, Chris allegedly responded to her, saying that she hates him, but whenever she wants him, he’s there. Furthermore, he told her that she always turns him on, so she should stop being a “b***h.”

In her final post, she chastised the singer, calling him an “IG dad.”

Social Media Reacts

Social media users slid in TSR’s comment section with reactions to Diamond Brown’s message and alleged texts with Chris Brown.

Here’s What Happened Before Diamond Brown Called Chris Brown An “IG Dad” While Airing OUT Their Alleged Text Messages

As The Shade Room previously reported, in April, Diamond Brown filed a paternity suit against Chris Brown, requesting primary physical and legal custody fo their daughter, Lovely. Earlier this month, Chris responded to her petition, requesting joint custody.

More recently, Diamond Brown appeared to throw shade at Brown with her social media re-posts — one dating as recently as earlier this week.

RELATED: Standing On Business? Diamond Brown’s Recent Social Media Message Has Internet Users Strongly Divided & Mentioning Chris Brown

Sienna Miller met actor Oli Green at a Halloween party thrown by a mutual friend, but it wasn’t exactly love at first sight.

“I was like, ‘This is absurd. This will not go anywhere,’” she told British Vogue in December 2023. “He worked hard to persuade me to go out for a drink with him.”

Miller previously dated Jude Law on and off from 2004 to 2011. She moved on with Tom Sturridge, whom she dated from 2011 to 2015. The pair welcomed daughter Marlowe in July 2012.

After Miller connected with Green, Emily Blunt tagged along for one of their New York City dates in early 2022. Blunt told British Vogue that she sees “so much of” her longtime friend in Green, especially “that free-spirited, curious, guileless thing that he has.”

Related: Sienna Miller’s Dating History: Jude Law, Oli Green and More

Sienna Miller has never given up on love — even after her messy split from ex-fiancé Jude Law made headlines in the early 2000s. “There’s a whole six weeks of that experience that I don’t remember,” Miller recalled to the Daily Beast in December 2020. “I have no recollection of it.” Miller confessed she was […]

The couple made their red carpet debut in March 2022. More than one year later, it was reported that Miller is pregnant with the couple’s first baby together. The Daily Mail confirmed in January 2024 that she gave birth to a baby girl. Miller revealed she is pregnant with her and Green’s second child at the British Fashion Awards in December 2025.

Miller confirmed in May 2026 that she and Green welcomed their second child together. News broke in June 2026 that the couple is engaged.

Keep scrolling for a look back at Miller and Green’s complete relationship timeline:

February 2022

Miller and Green were first linked after being spotted on a date in New York City.

March 2022

The couple were seen leaving Royal Albert Hall together in London after the BAFTAs. Later that month, Miller and Green made their relationship red carpet official at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills.

April 2022

Miller revealed to Elle UK that she chose to freeze her eggs when she turned 40. She shared that the pressure of her biological timeline was a “really loud noise.”

“Biology is incredibly cruel on women in that decade — that’s the headline, or it certainly was for me,” she explained. “Then I got to 40 and I froze some eggs. Having been really focused on the need to have another baby, I’m just like, if it happens, it happens. That kind of existential threat has dissipated.”

August 2023

One month after she sparked pregnancy rumors in St. Tropez, Miller showed off her growing baby bump while wearing a bikini on vacation in Ibiza.

September 2023

Miller bared her baby bump in an ivory Schiaparelli ensemble while attending the Vogue World: London event.

December 2023

Miller graced the cover of British Vogue 28 weeks into her pregnancy and opened up about her relationship with Green. At the time, the couple had recently moved into their own place after living at Green’s parents’ home in West London.

“I don’t think you can legislate on matters of the heart,” she said, addressing her 14-year age gap with Green. “I certainly have never been able to.”

January 2024

News broke that Miller gave birth to their baby girl.

May 2024

Miller reflected on her vacation with Green to the Maldives, revealing the babymoon was their first couples’ trip. “When Oli and I were preparing for the trip we realized that we’d never actually been on holiday, just the two of us, in our entire relationship,” she wrote in an essay penned for The Sunday Times. “So it was really magical to have that time together, thinking about each other and the baby that was about to arrive.”

June 2024

“I didn’t expect to take it seriously,” Miller told Harper’s Bazaar of the early days of her and Green’s romance. “And then quite quickly, I fell in love.”

Miller recalled being surprised by Green’s age when they met. “I wasn’t like, ‘I’m gonna get a younger boyfriend,’” she recalled. “It was more, ‘F–k! Why are you young? That’s so annoying.’”

Looking back, the actress said their 14-year age gap has actually been positive. “There is a difference in the way that generation of men respect women,” Miller added. “It’s specific to him, he is very wise and well-adjusted, but I do believe it’s also that generation. They have grown up with a slightly more level playing field. I see it in his female friends as well as in the men.”

December 2025

Miller showed off her baby bump at the British Fashion Awards in December 2025, revealing that she and Green are expecting their second baby.

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May 2026

Miller told E! News that she and Green had welcomed their second baby.

“It’s happened,” she told the outlet. “I have a tiny baby next door. It feels like stringing sentences together is a bit challenging. I’m on very little sleep, but I’m madly in love with my baby.”

June 2026

Days after Miller was spotted with a ring on her left hand, E! News confirmed that she and Green are engaged. Us Weekly reached out for comment at the time.

1990 was an unusually big year for crime movies. There are crime films that come out every year, sure, but there was one of the best of all time in 1990: Goodfellas, plus a bunch of other notable ones. Sure, The Godfather Part III wasn’t as good as either of the first two, but it’s still not as bad as some people make it out to be. Then, there was Miller’s Crossing, which has always been an underrated Coen Brothers film, Dick Tracy (which is more of a comedic crime movie), and John Woo’s Bullet in the Head, which gets unfairly buried between The Killer (1989) and Hard Boiled (1992), despite being almost just as good.

So, it was a crowded scene. And in that scene, there was also King of New York, which might well be the most underrated of the bunch, even if it’s not entirely obscure, as it’s become something of a cult classic (or, at least, the kind of movie that’s viewed more favorably nowadays than it was back when it first came out). It’s a take on Robin Hood, but with a gangster in then-contemporary New York City, and it stands as perhaps the best and most approachable movie in Abel Ferrara’s filmography. He’s a sometimes challenging director, and sure, King of New York is a little offbeat, and maybe not for everyone, yet is still worth giving a shot if you’re generally a fan of gangster thrillers.

The Plot of ‘King of New York’

Image via Carolco Pictures

The Robin Hood comparison is fair, honestly. Frank White (Christopher Walken) is that 20th-century Robin Hood, and he’s a powerful crime lord who’s just been released from prison, and he sets his sights on going legitimate. However, before he does that, he also wants to tie up loose ends within the world of crime he formerly operated in, and so that involves going around and taking down his competitors. Then, there are plans to donate the money he’s made through illegitimate means to those who are downtrodden.

In that sense, King of New York is also about redemption, but it explores this tension between doing violent things and possibly still being a net good for society at the same time. There’s certainly stuff to think about here alongside the more visceral and intense moments offered by King of New York. It also utilizes the titular city incredibly well throughout, with the gritty narrative feeling more believable because of how well the movie’s world is fleshed out within a single film. Therein lies a potential comparison to Goodfellas, and the movies of Martin Scorsese, since he’s another director who likes setting plenty of his films in New York (Goodfellas, of course, included).

What ‘King of New York’ Offers as a Gangster Movie

If you’re even a little familiar with Abel Ferrara, you’re probably aware that he tends to make dark and despairing movies, and he’s also not shy about pushing boundaries. So, that goes some way toward explaining why King of New York is as gritty and downbeat as it is. It’s not sugar-coated, feeling dark even by the standards of the gangster genre, and it was even originally rated X, in the U.S., before an appeal successfully got its rating back down to an R (this was right before the introduction of the NC-17 rating, as that happened in 1990, too).

There’s a guy who has a violent past, and his present is also quite dominated by violence, given what he wants to do when he’s fresh out of prison, but he seems to be up against forces that are morally worse than him. And then the fact that many of his adversaries are technically on the “right” side of the law makes things interesting, since King of New York showcases the extreme lengths police can go to when trying to take down violent criminals. There’s an antihero who wants to use his influence (that he got from being a criminal) to do some good, a police force that’s driven to fight fire with fire, and then other criminals who are far more ruthless than either of those other two sides, being the guys the antihero wants to take down. It all gets violent, more than a bit messy, and consistently morally interesting, more than sustaining a film’s worth of conflict.

‘King of New York’ Has One of Christopher Walken’s Very Best Performances

Image via New Line Cinema

Also, at the end of the day, King of New York is incredibly valuable for being one of those rare movies where Christopher Walken gets to be the unambiguous main character. He tends to be the sort of actor who shows up in supporting roles, stealing scenes, or sometimes really only stealing one scene (see Pulp Fiction). He’s an all-time great supporting actor for this reason, but King of New York is a great showcase for his ability to also be a surprisingly strong leading man. His performance here is also a little different from the kinds he’s more famous for giving, since it’s more understated, and the film’s general grimness means he’s by no stretch of the imagination doing anything quirky on screen.

There’s a strong supporting cast here, too, as the likes of Laurence Fishburne, David Caruso, Wesley Snipes, Giancarlo Esposito, and Steve Buscemi all show up throughout King of New York, too. It’s an easy enough movie to watch nowadays, too, since it can be streamed on Amazon Prime (for now, maybe not forever). If you’re a fan of Christopher Walken, or in the mood for something a little offbeat and underrated, as far as gangster/crime/thriller movies go, then King of New York is certainly worth a shot.

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King of New York

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Release Date

July 18, 1990

Runtime

103 minutes

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Director

Abel Ferrara

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Writers

Nicholas St. John

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What do a comedian, a fashion entrepreneur, a podcast star, a pair of celebrity chefs, and a room full of creators have in common? At Chronicle‘s “Emerging Icons at Tribeca” celebration, they all found themselves under the same roof.

Held during Tribeca Festival‘s 25th anniversary festivities, the event brought together a collection of personalities whose careers likely wouldn’t have existed in the same way a decade ago. Some built audiences through comedy sketches. Others through podcasts, social media, fashion brands or food content. Together, they represented a new generation of influence that is reshaping the entertainment business.

Among those attending were comedian Delaney Rowe, media personality Tinx, creator and interviewer Davis Burleson, fashion entrepreneur Jessica Wang and celebrity chefs Clinton Kelly and Michael Symon, stars of “Chewed Up.” While their backgrounds differ, they all share one thing: direct connections with audiences who follow them across multiple platforms.

That’s part of what made the gathering feel different from a traditional Hollywood event.

The Red Carpet Reflected Entertainment’s Changing Landscape

The event’s guest list was not the only thing signaling a shift in entertainment, but the fashion reflected it, too. Guests arrived in everything from sleek black eveningwear to bold, fashion-forward statement looks, creating an atmosphere that felt somewhere between a Hollywood premiere, creator summit, and fashion event.

Unlike traditional red carpets centered solely around actors or studio-backed celebrities, Chronicle’s gathering highlighted personalities who built influence across industries. Some arrived as creators-turned-entrepreneurs, while others balanced careers spanning television, fashion, podcasting, food media and brand partnerships.

The result was a crowd that looked less like old Hollywood and more like a snapshot of where entertainment is headed.

How The Creator Economy Is Reshaping Celebrity

The lines separating celebrities, entrepreneurs and creators have become increasingly blurred. Today’s most recognizable personalities aren’t necessarily discovered through television networks or movie studios. Many build audiences independently before expanding into podcasts, live events, products, books, television projects and businesses of their own.

That evolution is exactly why Chronicle has become a growing name in creator circles. Founded by Aaron Sisto, Scott Greenberg and Ollie Lewis, the company works at the intersection of technology, media and audience growth, helping creators and brands better understand how people engage with content online.

Throughout the evening, conversations weren’t centered solely on movies or television. Guests discussed brand launches, content strategies, audience trends and emerging opportunities across digital media. It reflected an industry where influence increasingly travels between platforms rather than living on just one.

Speaking about the growing role of AI in Hollywood, Chronicle co-founder and CEO Aaron Sisto pushed back on the idea that technology alone will replace traditional storytelling.

“I hear a lot of folks in San Francisco talking about AI as a way to disrupt traditional Hollywood,” Sisto explained. “That’s sort of the mentality up here – the idea that the next Pixar is going to be completely AI automated top to bottom. But after being in this world, investing in it and seeing the technology, I don’t buy it.”

Instead, Sisto argued the entertainment industry’s biggest problem is not necessarily creating content, but getting it in front of the right people. “Content isn’t actually the pain point or the bottleneck,” he said. “It’s marketing and distribution.”

According to Sisto, audiences no longer live exclusively inside traditional studio ecosystems, making discoverability one of the biggest shifts in modern media. “Audiences now live in completely different places,” he explained. “They live on these social platforms that the studios don’t control, and because of that, the studios are no longer the gatekeepers. The platforms and algorithms are.”

Why The Future Of Entertainment May Already Be Here

In many ways, the recent event felt less like a party and more like a glimpse into where entertainment is headed. The creators in attendance aren’t waiting for gatekeepers to decide who gets a platform. They’ve already built their own.

And if the crowd at Chronicle’s Tribeca gathering was any indication, the next chapter of entertainment may belong to people who started with nothing more than a camera, an idea, and an internet connection.

By TeeJay Small
| Updated 30 seconds ago

If you’ve got your finger on the pulse of the latest comedy outings, you’ve probably already seen trailers for Focker-In-Law. The film, which stars Ben Stiller, Robert De Niro, and Ariana Grande, is the fourth entrant into the Meet The Parents franchise, which launched all the way back in the year 2000. The original Meet The Parents is an iconic comedy which still holds up to this day, and the 2004 follow-up Meet The Fockers is a fun, quirky film that has some solid moments. 

Unfortunately, the fun sort of stopped in 2010 when Stiller and De Niro reunited for a third time with Little Fockers. This movie is a pale replica of its predecessors, offering little more than a tepid retread of jokes that were funnier the first time around. Despite the film being a bit of a slog, and Ben Stiller literally assuring fans that they don’t need to rewatch the trilogy to understand the upcoming sequel (he even claims that he doesn’t stand by the third film, per X), I decided to revisit Little Fockers on Netflix.

Move Along, Nothing To See Here!

I recall catching Little Fockers in theaters with my family upon release, and thinking little of it. In the years since, I’ve basically forgotten the entire plot, other than the fact that Gaylord ‘Greg’ Focker (Stiller) and his wife Pam now have children. In the movie, the Fockers are preparing a fifth birthday bash for their twins, when De Niro’s domineering Jack Byrnes drops in for a surprise visit.

Operating in his capacity as a hard-ass father-in-law, as well as a CIA retiree, Jack continually gives Greg a hard time. Jack has never approved of Greg, though extenuating circumstances have forced his hand in anointing him the new family patriarch and the arbiter of the coveted “circle of trust.” This is set in motion because Jack’s other daughter is in the process of getting a divorce, thus ousting the son-in-law that Jack actually enjoys.

Unfortunately, this passing of the torch is interrupted by a series of contrived, awkward situations that mistakenly lead Jack and others to believe Greg is unfaithful. If the plot sounds bare bones, that’s because it exists primarily to be a joke delivery system. If the jokes sound bare bones, it’s because the writers didn’t care about this movie at all when they were working on it.

Disappointing Lack Of Little Fockers

The primary source of comedy in this film stems from the fact that Focker sounds a lot like the F-bomb. If that joke blows your mind, you’ll probably be rolling on the floor by the time the film cuts to credits. If not, you’ll probably be half asleep by the fifth time Robert De Niro drops terms like “The god-Focker” and pauses for raucous applause. There are a few solid comedic beats on occasion, but it really feels like the script could have benefited from an extra draft or two.

If this film has anything going for it, it’s the stacked cast of side characters. Notable performers include Owen Wilson, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand, and Jessica Alba, but numerous top-notch comedians appear in small bit parts as well. Kevin Hart, Rob Huebel, John DiMaggio, Jordan Peele, and Nick Kroll comprise a few faces that wouldn’t have stood out in 2010, but make for a real DiCaprio-pointing-at-the-TV moment today.

At the end of the day, Little Fockers really doesn’t hold up. As it turns out, that Ben Stiller tweet and the 10 percent Rotten Tomatoes score really weren’t lying to me. This is a minor gripe, but I take umbrage with the fact that the movie doesn’t even focus on the kids all that much. For a film literally titled Little Fockers, I’d expect to see more of those little Fockers running around.

I guess I’m happy that I panned for any flecks of comedy gold within this sludge, if only to ensure that I won’t miss a beat when I queue up to see this comedic team remake the same comedy for the fourth time this November. Even still, you’d be better off brushing up on the first two films and letting your imagination fill in the blanks if and when you watch Focker-In-Law. At least Ariana Grande’s front-and-center billing on the poster implies that the new film will actually deliver on its title.

Little Fockers is currently streaming on Netflix, just in case you’re not willing to take my word for it. The first two films are on there as well, for those interested in turning a trilogy watch-through into a drinking game. Take a shot every time you hear De Niro drop Greg’s name in a silly way, and call it “getting Focked up.”

For years, Idris Elba was one of the most popular names floated as a potential James Bond. However, the actor is once again distancing himself from the speculation, insisting that he isn’t going to play the iconic British spy, nor was he ever in the running to do so, despite multiple reports to the contrary.

Amazon MGM Studios recently started setting up auditions for the role, and weighed in on what he believes the future of the James Bond franchise should and shouldn’t be.

In an interview with British GQ, Idris Elba doubled down on his previous statements and set the record straight about speculations that he’s in the running to be the next James Bond. “It was never legit. It was always just a rumour,” the actor said, adding that he always thought the possibility of him stepping into the iconic role was “not a realistic thing.”

The rumor began sometime in 2008, after Barack Obama’s historic presidential election victory. Daniel Craig told reporters during a press conference for “Quantum of Solace, “If we can have a Black U.S. president, we can have a Black James Bond.” While Craig didn’t specifically mention Elba by name, he was at the top of his career at that time.

“I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that. Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] won’t [all] go for a Black male, and African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period,” Elba explained.

The Actor Doesn’t Want A ‘Woke’ James Bond

Elba also opined that there’s no need to change James Bond, saying that the character is “so unrealistic.”

“A hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke. I think you’ve got to be pure to what it is: escapism. Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond,” he added.

Since 1962, six actors have played James Bond, the latest being Craig, who stepped into the role in 2006. Despite starring in five Bond films, Craig has repeatedly expressed how he wanted out of the role, and even once said he’d “rather break this glass and slash my wrists” in 2015.

Craig’s last Bond movie was in 2021’s “No Time to Die.”

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Rumors Were Fueled Over The Years

Speculation about Elba was further fueled in late 2014 when an email from Sony Pictures Entertainment Chairman Amy Pascal was leaked. In it, she reportedly wrote, “Idris should be the next Bond.”

In a Reddit AMA that same year, one user asked Elba whether he’d take the James Bond role if it was offered to him, to which the actor responded, “Yes, if it was offered to me, absolutely.”

Elba further fueled the fire in 2018 when he tweeted, “My name’s Elba, Idris Elba.” Hours later, however, he told his followers, “Don’t believe the HYPE.” The tweet has since been deleted.

Idris Elba Has Repeatedly Refuted The Speculations

This isn’t the first time Elba shut down James Bond rumors. As previously reported by The Blast, the 53-year-old “The Wire” actor said he was in no way in the running to be James Bond. He said he was never an option, ever, and the studio will be going for a younger actor. “I wish them all the luck of the world, I can’t wait — it’s going to be amazing,” he said.

In 2023, Elba touched on the topic on the “SmartLess” podcast, saying that while he felt “complimented” by the rumors at first, he was later turned off by the idea because of the public’s reaction. While some liked the idea, others took issue with the possibility that James Bond might be played by a Black man.

“Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense, and I got the brunt of it,” Elba shared.

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The Next James Bond

Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, and Daniel Craig were the six mainline actors who portrayed James Bond on the big screen.

In Mid-May, Amazon MGM Studios announced that it had begun auditioning actors for the next James Bond, but didn’t provide any other details. “While we don’t plan to comment on specific details during the casting process, we’re excited to share more news with 007 fans as soon as the time is right,” they stated.