My thoughts here are not original. As Daniel Craig will retire 007 status after his fifth and final Bond film, the debate on who will be the next Bond has been well underway for some time now. Many have already made the same conclusion that I have, and hopefully you will too (if you haven’t already) after reading this. Idris Elba would absolutely own being the next James Bond.

He Kicks Ass. Literally.

There is an inherent violence in Bond. He is dangerous. He kills men with his bare hands. In nearly every mission he undertakes he is pushed to his physical limits, by the elements and enemies alike. Most every villain, if not a monster themselves, has a henchman who is (not to mention leagues of goons and guards). Simply, Bond needs to know how to fight - and not just fight, he needs to kick ass. Physically, there is no question that Idris is overly qualified. At 6’2” he sports a broad shouldered, lean, and muscular frame that would make Jaws think twice. All that brawn isn’t just for show either. Elba actually just made a successful kickboxing debut, which is no joke.

The Ladies Love Him

This one is pretty self-explanatory so I won’t dwell on the topic. On top of the aforementioned physical description, Elba is enigmatically handsome. On top of that, he radiates a quiet, self-assured confidence - complete with an intense stare, a deep, well-paced voice and a mysterious demeanor. Did I not just describe James Bond?

He is the Perfect Age

The only thing I’ve heard people saying against Elba being Bond is this: he is too old. I must say there is some truth to this, so I will play devil’s advocate to myself. Bond needs to be old enough to have reached the rank of Royal Naval Commander yet be young enough so his sexual charisma is plausible. The average age of a new Bond is 40, but if you take away Barry Nelson and David Nivens, that age drops to 38.5. Idris Elba is 44.

It’s important to note that being a Bond is usually a multiple film deal. Most Bonds remain in service for 10 or more years. This means Elba would be an older Bond, and could be Bond into his mid-50s. And well, that’s okay - he’s still in the age range. I know what you’re thinking: but Roger Moore was a dirty old man (at age 57) in A View to a Kill! But hey - that was 31 years ago. Frankly, 50 years old in 1985 is not 50 years old in 2016. People live longer and look younger.

That said, let’s be honest - Idris is a youthful 44 with genetics on his side. He takes care of himself probably much better than Moore did. It’s the movies: I’m sure the wizards at MGM could youth him up some if needed.

He is Perfectly British

Idris Elba would be the first Black Bond, and that’s awesome. Bond is a universal character, and in my opinion, cultural diversity only makes Bond more realistic. Race shouldn’t be what defines this role. In fact, there is no good reason why Bond shouldn’t be Black. There is one cultural standard, however, that must be met - Bond must be British. And Idris Elba is perfectly British.

What do I mean by this? The short answer is he is actually British, born and raised. The long answer:

Idris Elba is famous for playing the fictional Baltimore drug kingpin, Stringer Bell. This was actually the first time I really watched him. If you didn’t know any better, you would honestly think he was actually from Baltimore. Later, I watched Elba in his equally famous role as Luther, a London detective. Not once when watching Luther did I think “Gee, that’s Stringer Bell.” In fact, I was really enthralled by how London-ish he was. It was that show, right there, that convinced me he should be James Bond.

I’m leading into my 5th point here, but what I am saying is despite his American roles, or his Star Trek ones, or his tiger ones - none of that will take away from him embodying the iconic British character. He is that legit.

He’s the Best Actor (of the Bunch)

This is the point where I will probably get the most flak. There is a lot speculation as to who will play the next Bond. I will admit, each candidate is uniquely qualified and intriguing in their own right. To name a few sans Elba, we have Tom Hardy, Tom Hiddleston, Damian Lewis, Luke Evans, and Superman himself, Henry Cavill.

I’m not saying any of these actors are better or worse than another in their craft - I just feel that Elba’s resume, when compared to the others, lends itself more so to being Bond. Idris has multiple SAG awards and a Golden Globe. He should have gotten an Academy Award nomination for Beasts of No Nation.

Critically, Tom Hardy gives Elba a pretty good run for his money (it is my belief that Hardy will win an Academy Award sooner or later… but that’s another blog post). However, Elba’s enigmatic style edges him out (Hardy to me would make a better Bond Villain).

Hiddleston, with all his charm, is making some strides too (see The Night Manager) but I still think the momentum is in Elba’s favor when it comes to style. Like Hardy, I see Hiddleston as a bad-ass villain.

Finally, to stress it one more time: Luther. Watch Luther and tell me you don’t see the workings of Elba playing Bond.

Oh and by the way. Steven Spielberg feels the same way.