Whether Idris Elba is -- or isn't -- "too street" to play James Bond may be beside the point, according to a past 007.

Pierce Brosnan guesses that the 50-plus-year-old film franchise will not change course and go with an African-American secret agent if Daniel Craig hangs up his Walther PPK as he's hinted he might.

“Anything is possible for sure, but I think he’ll be male and he’ll be white," Brosnan tells the Press Association.

Brosnan adds, “There’s wonderful black actors out there who could be James Bond, and there’s no reason why you cannot have a black James Bond."

As for the possibility of a female Bond, "No, I think it has to be male. James Bond is a guy, he’s all male. His name is James, his name is James Bond.”