British actor David Oyelowo is to play James Bond – though in voice only.
The Guardian reports that the 39-year-old is set to read the audio edition of Trigger Mortis, a new novel commissioned by the Ian Fleming estate and written by Anthony Horowitz.
Oyelowo received a personal invitation from the estate of Ian Fleming, the author of the original Bond spy novels, and claimed he was “very honored” at the opportunity, telling The Guardian, “I am officially the only person on planet Earth who can legitimately say: ‘I am the new James Bond.’”
While audiences today may best know him for his Golden Globe-nominated portrayal of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Oyelowo has already won considerable esteem for his acting prowess.
In 2001, he became the first black actor to play an English king in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s Henry VI trilogy, earning high praise for his performance.
Oyelowo is not the first black actor to play the role of Bond in audio form. In 2012, Hugh Quarshie read the audiobook of Dr No as part of a boxset.
The casting of cinema’s next 007 is still yet to be announced, although rumours continue to circulate that Idris Elba will become the first black Bond – despite Elba ruling himself out.
Daniel Craig is contractually obliged to play Bond in one more film after Spectre, which is released in November, but reports suggest he may be released from his contract early.
Trigger Mortis will be released on 8 September.
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