Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

Been saying it for years. Hollywood has a "One popular Negro at a Time" rule. We are at the tail end of a very long "Will Smith" cycle...coming up next: Mahershala Ali

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

I think it's more along the lines of "one popular negro per generation":

For along time we had Will Smith in the younger tier, Denzel Washington in the middle and Morgan Freeman in the older tier.

There's also the angry black man category, which Samuel L. Jackson will rein in till he dies.

With roughly 40 million black people in the US. That's 1 popular black actor per 10 million people. Sounds fair.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

He did Prisoners which did well in the box office and The Best Man Holiday. He's had some decent hits and even being in Marvel, no way his own movie career would have spiked. The TV show is his focus and it's a smashing hit. He's getting paid very well either way.

Yeah, you really don't see any other name outside those 3. What has Elba really done, though? Some good voice acting and part of the Marvel Universe, but for movie star, he doesn't get much nominations for his movie work and that's something that is needed to really blow up. My money is on Chadwick Boseman. He's done Jackie Robinson, James Brown, and will be Black Panther. Then there is Chiwetel Ejiofor from 12 Years, Doctor Strange, and going to be in Mary Magdalene.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

Curious why none of you that are touting this "one popular negro" theory are mentioning any female negroes? Arent there several popular female negroes right now?

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

Good point. Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Taraji P Henson are all sharing the current "OPN" female spotlight. This is on the tail end of the Angela Bassett, Halle Berry cycle...

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

He has this coming out in October, with Kate Winslet.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

A black man stuck in Idaho? That's not going to end well.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

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Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

Well, looks like Kate wants Idris to fuck her badly.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

I'm surprised he hasn't gotten bigger over here (unless he hasn't wanted to?) Everything I've seen him in is high quality. And I'm still a firm member of the Idris for Bond group. The guy oozes Bond without even trying.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

And none of them make the top 20 highest paid Hollywood actress list.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

Now that you mentioned it, thinking of highest paid actors and how there's only a handful of black actors at the top, how the hell did no one (including myself until now) not mention The Rock???

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

Never understood why the internet has such a hard on for him. He's a good actor but nothing about him says leading man. He also would be a terrible Bond so hopefully that never happens.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

The Rock is biracial. His father is African Canadian and his Mom is Hawaiin/Samoan. I don't know how he identifies his heritage, but in the late 90's he was in a Black Panther inspired wrestling faction called "Nation of Domination", but he was also a Hawaiin/Samoan in Moana so its anybodys guess. Also, I don't think we should be talking about this.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

He's a legend in my book just for his portrayal of Stringer Bell.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

I don't see what he has done to give you an indication that he "should" be a bigger star. He is basically where he is; he has never struck me as someone that can open a movie he has been great as a second lead or supporting player.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

Forgive me oh internet gods but I think Idris is kinda overrated by a lot of people.. I mean he definitely has good looks, size, and some charisma, but honestly nothing I have seen him in has really impressed me with his acting. He comes across very detached in most roles and I can "see" him acting. Still enjoy him but don't think he is as good as Denzel or Chiwetel or Cheadle acting wise.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

Yeah. I just dont see it either. The performances I have seen from him haven't really stood out at all.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

He's the black Tom Hardy on this board. Maybe those two should team up in a buddy cop movie or something and they can both be "bigger." I never did see RocknRolla, I'm sure they probably had good chemistry.

Re: Shouldn't Idris Elba be bigger?
 

I bet if Idris showed all like Tom is willing to then he would in fact be "bigger"