'A black James Bond would be visionary': Kanye West backs Idris Elba to take on iconic 007 role as the debate continues

                                  

As the debate rages on over whether Idris Elba should be cast as the first ever black James Bond, he's landed some high-profile support in the form of Kanye West.

The outspoken rapper, 37, insists that 42-year-old Idris would be perfect for the coveted role, currently held by Daniel Craig, branding the possibility 'visionary' casting.

He told The Sun: 'I know Idris a little bit and he is a big talent. The movies he has been making are special, and when the role for James Bond comes up it needs to be his.

Big support: Kanye West has thrown his weight behind Idris Elba to become the first black James Bond

'James Bond is a role made for British actors and you won't find a British actor who has the talent of Idris. To be honest you won't find many anywhere who have his talent.

While the majority of film fans have welcomed the suggestion, a minority have been enraged by the suggestion.

Some comments have been purely racist in content, but others have pointed to the intentions of the author, Ian Fleming, who created a spy in the likeness of white singer and actor Hoagy Carmichael, as well as a few characteristics of himself.

However, it wasn't until after the release of Dr. No in cinemas - in which Scottish actor Sean Connery originated the role - that Fleming gave Bond any sort of family background.

When writing You Only Live Twice, the spy's parents were given as Andrew Bond, from the village of Glencoe, Scotland, and Monique Delacroix, from the canton of Vaud, Switzerland, to fit with Connery's interpretation of the role.

Following the death of his parents, Bond goes to live with his aunt, Miss Charmian Bond, in the village of Pett Bottom, and after being kicked out of Eton, James heads to Fettes College in Scotland, his father's school.

Fleming also alludes to his own personal upbringing by having Bond briefly attend the University of Geneva, before being taught to ski in Kitzbühel, however the casting of later Bonds haven't exactly gone with the writer's intentions.

Since Sean Connery hung up his licence to kill, 007 has been played by an Australian actor (George Lazenbury) and an Irish actor (Pierce Brosnan) and a few blondes, like Roger Moore and Daniel Craig, thrown into the mix.

In a 2011 interview with NPR, Idris said he's not interesting in becoming the 'black' James Bond.

'Sean Connery wasn't the Scottish James Bond, and Daniel Craig wasn't the blue-eyed James Bond, so if I played him, I don't want to be called the black James Bond,' the actor said.

So really the biggest issue for Idris becoming the next 007, is whether he'll be too old to play him once Daniel Craig leaves the series.