David Oyelowo lands James Bond role - for audiobook

David Oyelowo has landed the role of James Bond.

Oyelowo, 39, will lend his voice to the fictional 007 agent for the audiobook, Trigger Mortis.

The story was penned by Anthony Horowitz from a commission by the Ian Fleming estate, who personally invited the Selma actor to play the part.

Speaking about landing the new role, Oyelowo said: “I am officially the only person on planet Earth who can legitimately say: ‘I am the new James Bond’ – even saying that name is the cinematic equivalent of doing the ‘to be or not to be’ speech.

“I was asked specifically by the Fleming estate, which is really special.”

Horowitz said of Oyelowo: “What an honour to have an actor as talented as David to read my take on Bond. He has a brilliant voice and talent for bringing out the nuances of dialogue and characters.”

It is not the first time that a black actor has lent his voice to the part, as is being reported. Former Holby City actor Hugh Quarshie read Dr No as part of a box set in 2012.

Now Daniel Craig is coming to the end of his tenure as Bond, talk has turned to who will take on the iconic role, with Idris Elba among the rumoured names.

Speaking recently about the role, Elba told Maxim: "If I were the Bond producers and everyone was pointing me toward one actor, what’s the surprise in that?

"Honestly, it’s one of those things that if it should happen, it would be a self-fulfilling prophecy; it would be the will of a nation."