Idris Elba: I'm too old to play Bond role

Idris Elba is convinced he is "too old" to take on the role of James Bond - even though he is younger than current 007, Daniel Craig.

The Luther star has emerged as a fan favourite to become a successor to 48-year-old Daniel, who many people expect not to return for a fifth Bond film after last year's (15) Spectre.

Elba, who turns 44 in September (16), has long maintained he is flattered to be considered a top choice as film fans push for him to become the franchise's first black Bond, but he recently admitted he's becoming tired of talking about it, because the rumours are just that.

"It is the wildest rumour in the world," he reiterated on U.S. breakfast Good Morning America on Thursday (20Jul16). "I keep saying, if it was to happen, it'd be the will of the nation, because there's not been no talks with me and studios (sic) about any of that, but everywhere I go, people want that to happen."

Now the British actor, who is no stranger to action movies himself, has gone one step further by questioning whether he would even have the energy to keep up with the physical demands of the role, citing his age as a concern.

"If I'm really honest man, I think I'm too old for that!" he laughed, before joking, "I ain't (sic) gonna be running around, in cars, and ladies, and martinis. Who wants to do that? It sounds terrible!"

Craig has yet to officially walk away from the coveted role, but he made it clear he didn't think he'd be back as Bond while promoting Spectre. Other frontrunners tipped by experts to take over as the suave superspy include Elba's Thor co-star Tom Hiddleston, and War and Peace actor James Norton.

Meanwhile, Idris is keeping himself busy as he continues to promote the new Star Trek Beyond movie, in which he portrays the alien villain, Krall.

Elba jumped at the opportunity to become a part of the iconic sci-fi franchise he had watched as a child, especially as it would be his first time working with extensive prosthetics.

"You know, what really drew me (to the role) was a) being in a Star Trek film. Star Trek's a big franchise and when I was a kid, I was watching Star Trek at 11 years old, before I was even an actor or (knew I) wanted to act, so to be asked to be in a Star Trek film and be a villain, that was like an honour."

"And then, I wanted to do the prosthetic thing," he added, quipping, "It's an improvement on me!"

The star reveals wearing the large headpiece to play the lizard-like dictator was "definitely" different, and he had to spend some time in front of the mirror practising his facial movements: "Obviously you're moving your face but the exterior isn't moving the way you think it is."

"It takes you a little while to get used to," he continued. "And his head's big, it's huge! It took me four hours to put that thing on every day."

Star Trek Beyond, directed by Justin Lin, also features the return of series stars Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, and Zachary Quinto. It opens in the U.S. and U.K. this week (22Jul16).