Once Daniel Craig parks his Aston Martin and sets down his martini glass for good, heartthrob Idris Elba could be the next leading man to take up the role of James Bond if the rumours are to be believed.

According to a report from the British tabloid The Daily Star, director Antoine Fuqua revealed that the franchise鈥檚 producer Barbara Broccoli was open to the idea of a non-white actor playing Bond in the future.

The paper quoted Broccoli as saying that 鈥渋t鈥檚 time鈥� for a non-white actor to fill the role once Craig completes his final film in the series, which is scheduled for release in 2019.

鈥淚dris could do it if he was in shape,鈥� Fuqua was quoted as saying. 鈥淵ou need a guy with a physically strong presence. Idris has that.鈥�

Fuqua also appeared to suggest that the change would happen 鈥渆ventually鈥� and that Elba is the reported frontrunner.

For his part, Elba has repeatedly dismissed rumours that have persisted for years that he was next in line to play the dashing spy.

In 2014, the 鈥淟uther鈥� star was the subject of frenzied speculation that he was the next Bond following the release of hacked Sony Pictures emails in which Elba鈥檚 name was put forth as an option by one studio executive.

In response, the 45-year-old actor made light of the rumours .

鈥淚sn鈥檛 007 supposed to be handsome? Glad you think I鈥檝e got a shot!鈥� he wrote in December 2014.

Craig will reprise the role of Bond for his fifth and final time with director Danny Boyle behind the helm for the film scheduled for release in 2019.