THR David Oyelowo - H 2015
Austin HargraveDavid Oyelowo is set to become the first black James Bond. At least in audiobook form.
The Guardian reports the English actor has been selected to voice 007 in Trigger Mortis, an official Bond book written by Anthony Horowitz, and commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate, to be released on Sept. 8.
Oyelowo’s voice casting was a direct invitation from the Fleming estate, and the actor said he was “very honored” to be chosen. “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,” he said.
He added: “I was asked specifically by the Fleming estate, which is really special.”
Speculation over the casting of a first black Bond onscreen refuses to abate, with Luther star Idris Elba continually linked with the role despite ruling himself out on numerous occasions.
British bookmakers have Elba among the favorites to replace current Bond Daniel Craig. Damian Lewis, Tom Hardy, Henry Cavill and Michael Fassbender are also said to be in the running.
Craig is set to play the iconic MI6 spy one more time after Spectre, which hits theaters on Nov. 6.
