Skip to main content

Idris Elba makes his case for James Bond in the trailer for Bastille Day

Luther star Idris Elba has long been a popular choice among fans to take over the role of James Bond, but the British actor’s upcoming film Bastille Day might provide the best indication yet of whether he should inherit Agent 007’s license to kill.

The first international trailer for Bastille Day arrived online this week from producer StudioCanal, and the preview features Elba and Game of Thrones actor Richard Madden teaming up to stop an explosive terrorist attack in France. With plenty of tension, fast-paced action, and more than a few shots of Elba shooting first and asking questions later (and showing exactly that sort of certainty of purpose that’s a necessary quality in a James Bond), the preview for Bastille Day could serve double duty as a compelling action-thriller and a feature-length audition for Elba.

In the film, Elba plays a tough CIA agent who goes rogue after uncovering a dangerous conspiracy linked to a potential terrorist attack in France. He’s forced to team up with an American pickpocket played by Madden in order to investigate the case, and the pair soon find themselves targeted by enemies who might be rooted within the government itself.

Along with Elba and Madden as the odd-couple leads, the film co-stars Kelly Reilly (True Detective), Charlotte Le Bon (The Walk), and Alexander Cooper (The Imitation Game).

The Woman in Black filmmaker James Watkins co-directed Bastille Day with French filmmaker Jill Gage, who makes her feature directorial debut on the film. The film’s script was penned by Andrew Baldwin, who’s also attached to write the screenplay for the next Jason Bourne spinoff film starring Jeremy Renner.

There is currently no U.S. release date set for Bastille Day, but the film will hit U.K. theaters April 22.

Editors' Recommendations

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
Disney+ to begin crackdown on password sharing
OnePlus Pad with Disney Plus app open

Disney+ is moving toward ending free password sharing on its platform.

The move follows the same one deployed by Netflix earlier this year following years in which it had a rather relaxed attitude to the practice, enabling many people to use the streaming service for free.

Read more
The best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video right now
Joker on HBO Max

Mystery and suspense are front and center in the best thrillers on Amazon Prime Video. Each month, the go-to streaming platform adds new and exciting titles to its pantheon of titles, and it’s our job to keep up with Prime Video’s latest and greatest.

We’re discerning viewers though, so we take our thriller recommendations very seriously. Whether you’re interested in big-budget flicks or shoestring indies, we’ve done our best to capture the full spectrum of pulse-pounding titles on Prime Video.
Amazon Prime may have a robust catalog, but it doesn't have everything. Luckily, we've also curated roundups of the best thrillers on Netflix and the best thrillers on Hulu.

Read more
The best new shows to stream on Netflix, Hulu, Max (HBO), and more
Jaz Sinclair as Marie Moreau in Gen V.

As September rolls into October, the best new shows to stream are leaning heavily towards superheroes and fantasy. Amazon Prime Video has premiered the first three episodes of The Boys spinoff series, Gen V, while Netflix's Castlevania sequel anime, Castlevania: Nocturne, has finally arrived. But if you're looking for some rom-com love, check out the third season of Max's Starstruck. Additionally, the second episode of Peacock's The Continental: From the World of John Wick is also one of the top choices of the week.

Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Max, Apple TV+, Disney+, Paramount+, and Peacock have to be breathing a sigh of relief now that the writers' strike is over. Once the streamers settle with the actors, they can get back to dropping new shows each and every week. It's definitely not cheap to subscribe to all of the streaming services, but you can save some money with the ad-supported tiers. Either way, keep coming back here every week for our updated rundown of the best new shows to stream.
When you're done here, check out the best new movies to stream this week, as well as the best shows on Netflix, best shows on Hulu, best shows on Amazon Prime Video, and best shows on Disney+.

Read more