Roger Moore, the fourth man to play James Bond on film, appeared to make some inopportune comments about Idris Elba, who has been tipped to be the first black Bond. Moore is said to have to have told the French magazine Paris Match (which published his comments in French):
A few years ago, I said that Cuba Gooding Jr. would make an excellent Bond, but it was a joke! Although James may have been played by a Scot, a Welshman, and an Irishman, I think he should be ‘English-English’… it’s an interesting idea, but unrealistic.
He was roundly criticized for the comments. Moore now says he was misquoted:
and has retweeted several people who have defended him:
It’s a shame, as the whole row overshadowed the launch of the latest teaser trailer for Spectre, the next Daniel Craig-starring Bond film—which looks quite good.