David Oyelowo Just Made 'James Bond' History
His name's Oyelowo. David Oyelowo. And he's the new James Bond… at least in a manner of speaking!
Really, speaking is the name of the game, as the "Selma" and "The Butler" actor has been cast as the voice of Agent 007 (and other characters) in the audiobook version of "Trigger Mortis," the new Bond book written by Anthony Horowitz under the guidance of the Ian Fleming estate.
Oyelowo becomes the first black actor to play Bond, and he tells The Guardian: "I am officially the only person on planet Earth who can legitimately say: 'I am the new James Bond' – even saying that name is the cinematic equivalent of doing the 'to be or not to be' speech." He adds that his services were "specifically [requested] by the Fleming estate, which is really special."
There's no doubt that Oyelowo is one of the great talents of the moment, appearing in a wide range of projects with roles as iconic as Martin Luther King, Jr. in "Selma," and buttoned-up businessmen as loathsome as Steven Jacobs in "Rise of the Planet of the Apes." Oyelowo also knows a thing or two about lending his voice to fan-favorite properties, playing the evil Agent Kallus on "Star Wars: Rebels."
We're still in the Daniel Craig era as far as the live-action Bond goes, what with "SPECTRE" hitting theaters this November and future films more than likely — but should Craig's time come to an end, and if Oyelowo's voice work in the "Trigger Mortis" audiobook is as excellent as expected, then perhaps we have a worthy screen successor on our hands.