LONDON (AP) — The author of the new James Bond novel has apologized after he said that British actor Idris Elba is "too street" to play 007.

In an interview with the Daily Mail newspaper, Anthony Horowitz, the author of the new Bond novel "Trigger Mortis," said Elba is "too 'street' for Bond."

Elba, 42, has been rumored to be among the actors considered to replace Daniel Craig as the next Bond.

Horowitz was quoted saying: "It's not a color issue ... Is it a question of being suave? Yeah."

Horowitz said Tuesday he was thinking of Elba's gritty role in the BBC crime drama "Luther," and did not mean to cause offense. He said he believed another black actor, Adrian Lester, would be a better choice.