David Oyelowo will voice James Bond in forthcoming thriller 'Trigger Mortis'.

The Shakespearian actor will be the first black actor to play 007 and while it is for the audiobook rather than on-screen, it's a big deal because the estate of Bond author and creator IAN FLEMING personally asked him to step up to the role.

David revealed: ''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.''

The 29-year-old gushed about how ''really special'' it was to have been specifically asked to take on the role.

He told the Guardian newspaper: ''I was asked specifically by the Fleming estate, which is really special.''

David's repertoire includes playing Henry VI for the Royal Shakespeare Company, MI5 officer Danny Hunter in the BBC TV drama 'Spooks' and he was Martin Luther King in 'Selma'.

The news comes as 'Luther' star Idris Elba was rumoured to be taking over from Daniel Craig as the first black James Bond.

However, the 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' actor will star as the MI5 spy once again in the next film in the franchise 'Spectre' released on November 6.