A revamped, Guy Ritchie version of the classic tale of King Arthur is underway, and Idris Elba’s name is now being discussed as a potential cast member.
The Warner Bros. film is still in the very early stages of planning, with a July 22nd, 2016 release date. Joby Harold (Awake) has written the script, and Akiva Goldsman (Lone Survivor) and Tory Tunnell (Holy Rollers) are tied to the film as producers. While King Arthur himself has yet to be cast, there is supposedly a great deal of competition amongst actors for the iconic role. For now, the only name that has been revealed as a possible attachment to the film is that of Elba. Sources say that in the story for the new movie Arthur would be under the tutelage of Elba’s magical, Merlin-like character. However, official details regarding the plot are not available yet.
While Elba first made a name for himself as the infamous Stringer Bell on HBO’s beloved series The Wire, his movie career has gained considerable steam over the past couple of years with notable roles in Prometheus and Pacific Rim, as well as the titular lead role in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom. He will also be seen later this year in Sam Miller’s No Good Deed, and next year in Disney’s remake of The Jungle Book, voicing the villain Shere Khan. For a period of time, it was widely speculated that the British actor could be cast as the very first African-American James Bond. Although the actor has strongly dispelled those rumors, there is no denying that his star is on the rise.
Stay tuned for more updates as King Arthur continues to come together.