The 'Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom' star, who has been tipped by fans to become the new James Bond, is said to be in talks to star as a villain in the next installment of the British spy film franchise.

AceShowbiz - Idris Elba is going to need a license to kill. The Golden Globe-nominated actor may be eventually starring in a James Bond movie after fans' years-long campaign for him to be the next 007 agent.

The English actor is reportedly in informal talks with the studio to star in an upcoming installment of the British spy film franchise, though with a twist. Instead of playing the titular character, the "Luther" star is reportedly offered a villain role.

"Idris has had informal talks with the studio and he has been told there is a role in the next Bond film for him, if he wants it," a source tells The Sun. "He won't be the title character, but they do recognise the amount of pull and respect he commands, and they want to work with him on a completely original character for the next instalment."

The source goes on noting that nothing has been sealed as of now, adding, "It is still very early days for the conversations but, so far, it looks like it would be the role of a villain."

Elba has long been tipped by fans to become the next James Bond, replacing Daniel Craig who has made his final appearance as the flamboyant secret agent in "No Time to Die", which was released last October in the United States. However, the Heimdall depicter in the Marvel Cinematic Universe is sure that it's not going to happen as he recently said, "I'm not going to be James Bond."

The 49-year-old actor is currently in the U.K. to film the feature-film adaptation of his critically-acclaimed crime drama series "Luther". He recently also starred in James Gunn-directed "The Suicide Squad" and has been cast as Knuckles for "Sonic the Hedgehog 2".

As for the new James Bond, the studio has not announced Craig's replacement, but Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has expressed his interest to take on the role. Revealing that his grandfather Peter Maivia played a Bond villain in 1967's "You Only Live Twice" opposite Sean Connery, he told Esquire, "I would like to follow in his footsteps and be the next Bond. I don't want to be a villain. You gotta be Bond."

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