Idris Elba has long been a fan and studio favorite to succeed Daniel Craig in portraying James Bond on the silver screen. However, according to English novelist Anthony Horowitz, who is currently writing the next Bond novel Trigger Mortis, The Wire actor is “too street” to play 007.

Speaking to The Daily Mail, Horowitz explained, “For me, Idris Elba is a bit too rough to play the part. It’s not a colour issue. I think he is probably a bit too ‘street’ for Bond. Is it a question of being suave? Yeah.”



Update: Horowitz has since issued an apology via Twitter.

I'm really sorry my comments about Idris Elba have caused offence [full statement attached] pic.twitter.com/UD6ouA45Uv — Anthony Horowitz (@AnthonyHorowitz) September 1, 2015

Horowitz is not the only dissenting opinion within Bond camp. Roger Moore, who portrayed the UK special agent between 1973 and 1985, recently said, “I think [Bond] should be ‘English-English,” saying of Elba’s potential casting, “It’s an interesting idea, but unrealistic.” Like Horowitz, Moore has denied any racial connotations to his comments.

The next Bond movie, Spectre, hits theaters on November 6th. Watch the first teaser trailer here.