Daily Beast: Sony exec says Elba should play 007

Idris Elba

The Daily Beast Website IN A POST QUOTING A SONY EMAIL reported that Sony Pictures executive Amy Pascal said actor Idris Elba should be the next actor to play James Bond.

The Daily Beast post backs into this piece of news. Here’s the key excerpt.

It seems Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal is a big fan of the idea, too.

An email sent on January 4, 2014, from Pascal to Elizabeth Cantillon, former executive vice president of production for Columbia Pictures, which distributes the Bond films, simply says, “Idris should be the next bond.”

Sony was hacked last month. Hackers demanded Sony stop release of the comedy The Interview that included a scene depicting the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. This week, Sony did just that after theater chains said they wouldn’t show the film after threats from the hackers.

Meanwhile, the hackers put out a copy of a script for the new Bond film SPECTRE as well as e-mails discussing how the movie’s budget was on pace to exceed $300 million, making it one of the most expensive movies ever made.

Sony Pictures has released Bond films starting with 2006’s Casino Royale. Sony’s current agreement to distribute 007 movies runs through SPECTRE, which is scheduled to come out in November 2015. The 007 franchise is controlled by Eon Productions and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

SPECTRE began filming last week, marking actor Daniel Craig’s fourth film in the Bond role. He also played 007 IN A 2011 VIDEO for International Women’s Day produced by Eon Productions co-boss Barbara Broccoli.