Idris Elba won't replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond

Elba said he is going to continue to play the tormented detective John Luther but won’t be taking up the James Bond role.

On Tuesday, he spoke to the World Government Summit in Dubai and brought up the persistent discussions about him taking over as Ian Fleming’s famed British spy.

Those had grown louder after Daniel Craig’s demise as Bond in the 25th film in the franchise called No Time To Die.

Idris Elba has said he won't be playing the role of the next James Bond (Image: Bradley Collyer/PA)

Idris Elba says he won’t be taking up James Bond role

When Elba was asked about his upcoming film based on the British series Luther, he clearly ruled himself out of playing 007.

“It’s very dark,” Elba said of the series.

“We’ve been working on the television show for about 10 years and so the natural ambition is to take it to the big screen, and so we’re here with the first movie.”

He added: “You know, a lot of people talk about another character that begins with ‘J’ and ends with ‘B,’ but I’m not going to be that guy.

“I’m going to be John Luther. That’s who I am.”

American cinemas will see Luther: The Fallen Sun be released on February 24 and it will stream on Netflix from March 10.

Andy Serkis also co-stars and other actors from the television series.

Elba, 50, is known for a variety of television and film roles, ranging from Stringer Bell on the American television series The Wire and the recent movie Beast.

The then prince of Wales meets Daniel Craig upon his arrival for the World Ki Premiere of No Time To Die (Image: Chris Jackson/PA)

While on stage, Elba discussed The Heads Of State, an upcoming film he is working on with the American actor and wrestler John Cena.

“He plays the American president.

“I play the British prime minister,” Mr Elba said.

“We get into a caper.

“I’m very excited about doing that because leadership comes in many different forms.”

Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba received an award for their work on food security in Africa at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in recent weeks.

The actor has also worked as an anti-crime ambassador with his Don’t Stab Your Future initiative in the United Kingdom, where he grew up in east London.

During his talk, Elba urged nations to invest more in creative industries, saying it can provide an economic engine that provides jobs to their youth.

In particular, he said creative jobs could greatly help countries in Africa.

“I believe that Africa, especially as a continent, needs to hold a narrative, change a narrative,” he said.

When discussing storytelling, Elba praised Dubai for its “incredible tourism story” that it has developed over the last decades.

A new property boo is being seen in the city-state, fuelled in part by Russian cash amid Moscow’s war on Ukraine.

“I think Dubai should win an Oscar because the (place) is incredible,” Elba said to applause.

“It’s a very, very good job and other countries should take note.”