Stop speculating about the next James Bond!

Idris Elba

Don't get it twisted. I love Idris Elba. And like most reasonable people I was offended by new 007 author Anthony Horowitz's assertion that the black British actor is "too street," to play James Bond. And for the record, I was also turned off by Horowitz's dissing Skyfall too.

That said, I am also sick and tired of all the premature speculation over who the next 007 should be.

Here's the thing, I am a Bond fanatic (as my epic marathon-viewing of all the 007 films in order can attest) and in my humble opinion, we are in the midst of the entire franchise's high point.

Skyfall was the most commercially and critically successful Bond film of all time. Daniel Craig has been masterful in the role and after this fall's Spectre he's contractually committed to one more outing (although he has hinted that this new film may be his last).

I have no doubt that Craig will move on at some point. He's nearly 50 years old and has been tied down to playing the British secret agent for nearly ten years. Still, he's been a fan favorite and a nice change of pace from his well-coiffed, but quip-happy predecessor.

Why the rush to establish a new 007? In addition to Elba, the rumor mill has been swirling around Tom Hardy (who already has a franchise in Mad Max), Michael Fassbender, Hugh Jackman and a handful of other unknowns. And yet if Craig does go on to fulfill his contract, we might not have a new Bond until at least 2020, which is why I find the whole preoccupation with his replacement rather puzzling.

On the Elba matter I have a few thoughts. He is already in his mid 40s so his window for assuming the role is closing rapidly. I had, in the past, resisted the notion of a black James Bond. I'm African-American, so I can assure you prejudice was not my motivation. I guess I just liked the idea of some continuity with the character.

Daniel Craig in Skyfall

But here's the thing. The Daniel Craig era basically rebooted everything. It's as if the Connery-Moore-Dalton-Brosnan years never happened. And Skyfall, my favorite 007 movie of all time, showed a willingness to kill off major characters and take some real narrative chances. So if the producers wanted to change Bond's racial identity there are interesting ways to do it.

For instance, at the end of Craig's fifth outing as Bond, his version of the character could die and another agent, perhaps played by Elba, could assume his position and moniker. Perhaps the James Bond identity is just that, a nice suit passed from agent to agent that they can use for cloak and dagger purposes. This would appease purists who have a hard time seeing the character as non-white, and also please a legion of fans who think Elba would make the most natural choice for the next 007.

People forget how controversial a choice Craig initially was. Back then the whole uproar was over the fact that he was blonde and supposedly not good looking enough. Those critics look pretty foolish now. Back in 2006, when Craig took on the role, the name most often rumored to be right for the part was actor Clive Owen. Again, nothing against Clive Owen, but it's hard to imagine anyone other than Daniel Craig playing Bond over the last few years. He was the right 007 for the moment.

And perhaps Idris Elba is the right Bond for the future. But really, what's the rush?