Sir Idris Elba has urged the new James Bond custodians not to make the spy “woke”.

The Golden Globe winner, who was a front-runner to be Daniel Craig’s replacement, said that 007 needed to remain “unrealistic” and that audiences would not welcome a black actor.

In an interview with GQ about who could take over the role, with casting officially under way, Sir Idris said: “Bond is so unrealistic, so a hint of reality is good, but let’s not try and make it woke.

“I think you’ve got to be pure to what it is: escapism. Don’t try and answer the world’s taste. Just be Bond.”

He also addressed rumours that he could be Craig’s replacement after the actor’s 15-year tenure as the suave spy, which ended with the film No Time to Die in 2021.

“I’ve always felt that it’s not a realistic thing,” Sir Idris said, adding: “James Bond was written how he was written for a reason. But I was complimented by it.

“And also, I think, in realistic terms, some markets just don’t go for that. Bond is big all over the world. And [audiences] won’t [all] go for a black male, an African male, playing Bond. That’s not what they like in their culture. Period.”

He made the comments less than a month after Amazon MGM Studios confirmed that casting for the new 007 had started.