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When leaked emails from Sony appeared to show Idris Elba in the running to replace Daniel Craig as James Bond, MailOnline’s commenters had a field day. Despite 007 being played by at least eight people in the past, some of the Mail’s readers threw their toys out of the pram when they heard Ian Fleming’s classic spy character could be played by a black man. The comments range from implying that black and white people are different species to equating fictional character James Bond to Nelson Mandela.

We really, really hope these are just trolls and not real people.

“Worst idea EVER! Never in a million years . . . lets make Mickey Mouse a Cat while we’re at it as well” Simon White said.

“Why doesn’t the black world create their own characters and literature and stick to that for characterisation in films” by – CommentatorfromUK.

“He is Agent 007, not Agent 420” from meagain377.

“Why not have a female Bond – you know, if we’re on course to totally f — k the franchise beyond all recognition. He can drive a Aston Martin Trike and shoot poison darts out of a blowpipe too. For f — k’s sake!” – London Cabbie.

“James Bond is white, period” – NotANiceGuy said.

“If true, I won’t be seeing it and Daniel Craig will be the last Bond to me. Bond has always been white and always will be. No more of this P C absurdity.” from JS.

“Let’s call it . . . ‘James Bong’ then” from Mkat.

Justabrake said: “Save him for the next slave movie!”

“To all the people saying Bond is fictional: So what? So is Harry Potter but there’d be an outcry if he was suddenly portrayed by Mr T. What would happen if Phil Mitchell reappeared in Albert Square played by Jackie Chan? They’re established characters. This just cries PC-brigade. Elba is a fantastic actor, but Bond is white. It’s that simple” from AndrewB.

“Coming to your cinema soon, Morgan Freeman as Winston Churchill, Denzel Washington as JFK and Ralph Fiennes as Malcolm X” from Millers Line.

“If this ever came to pass I would refuse to ever watch a James Bond film again, even if they changed the actor multiple times. I would also go out of my way to convince everyone I know not to watch or support the James Bond franchise and pray for it’s demise” from Idylls of the king. – Huffington Post.