Idris Elba Lands Lead Role In Pacific Rim

Idris Elba Lands Lead Role In Pacific Rim

Comic Book Movie regular Idris Elba has landed the lead role in Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi movie Pacific Rim.

By selinakyle - Jun 22, 2011 08:06 AM EST
Filed Under: Sci-Fi
Source: Shadow and Act

The Thor and Ghost Rider actor is set to take over for Tom Cruise in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim, a futuristic science fiction "the earth is going to be destroyed by monsters" movie. Elba shot to fame on The Wire and has been nabbing high profile movie roles since then. He is currently starring on BBC's Luther.



It’s now been confirmed that Idris Elba will take over for Tom Cruise to star in what’s being described as an epic sci-fi film - aka Pacific Rim - a movie that’s “set in a future in which malevolent creatures threaten the earth,” and thus “the planet must band together and use highly advanced technology to eradicate the growing menace.”

Elba will play the lead character known as “Sensi,” alongside Son of Anarchy’s Charlie Hunnam, with principal photography set to begin in November.


The Legendary Pictures film, scripted by Travis Beacham, is set in a future where giant malevolent creatures threaten to destroy the earth, city by city. To combat its annihilation, the planet must band together and use highly advanced weapons technology to eradicate the growing threat. The movie is influenced by mecha, the Japanese genre involving humans piloting robotic constructs.




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Really
Really - 6/22/2011, 8:49 AM
Block!
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 6/22/2011, 9:01 AM
Awesome!:) Hundred times better choice than Cruise.
selinakyle
selinakyle - 6/22/2011, 9:02 AM
lol i know right Alex? I dont know why that guy is still acting. I guess its because he is Tom Cruise. Ugh!
selinakyle
selinakyle - 6/22/2011, 9:04 AM
No, its a MBC.
Herosave
Herosave - 6/22/2011, 9:13 AM
Cools news.

@SUPERGUY

Well to be honest, Hollywood in general is weird about actually finding no namers that can act, fill a role and lead a movie because of pressure of not performing well at the box office. So if it is like this in general, I can only imagine how much harder it is when it comes to filling roles in which a black actor may be sought out or there is no sort of 'racial' preference of character. It seems the only choices are always Will Smith, Samuel Jackson, Denzel or now Idris. A few others, but most of them are getting older. And don't get me wrong these guys are often great choices, but sadly they are also often the only choices...

I sort of wonder 20 years from now if the only black actor that may be around to fill lead action movie roles will be Will Smith's son lol....
LoudLon
LoudLon - 6/22/2011, 9:14 AM
Great actor, I'll watch any movie he's in. And I love Guillermo Del Toro. Dude has an amazing imagination and a real eye for visuals.

This should be a good flick.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 6/22/2011, 9:15 AM
Big Dris is the man, as is big ..Del Toro! I just hope this overcomes it's pretty contrived premise.
Orphix
Orphix - 6/22/2011, 9:16 AM
hehe...rim..hehe
Orphix
Orphix - 6/22/2011, 9:18 AM
And as for quality black actors there are plenty - just the roles aren't out there.

Difficult to get the big name you need to head a blockbuster.

Anyway I have always been a massive fan of Chiwetel Ejiofor. The guy is amazing and his range is fantastic.
Bandrews1
Bandrews1 - 6/22/2011, 9:20 AM
The casting for this is coming together nicely. I wonder who they'll cast as the female leads.
HelaGood
HelaGood - 6/22/2011, 9:39 AM
he was sooooooooo awesome in Thor!!!
larusso
larusso - 6/22/2011, 9:54 AM
love that guy
marvel72
marvel72 - 6/22/2011, 9:54 AM
yeah he was good in thor,haven't seen him in anything else.
dahamma
dahamma - 6/22/2011, 9:56 AM
Dang this sounds awesome! GIant mechs? Idris ELba? sign me up!
sexfoodcomics
sexfoodcomics - 6/22/2011, 10:32 AM
This dude is a way better actor then will smith. I'm glad he is finally blowing up.
Protocida
Protocida - 6/22/2011, 10:59 AM
Looks like they removed all the references to Japan. Understandable.
imnotwearinghockeypants
imnotwearinghockeypants - 6/22/2011, 11:09 AM
He'll always be Stringer Bell.
UncleDrew
UncleDrew - 6/22/2011, 11:15 AM
Sounds interesting
jazzman
jazzman - 6/22/2011, 11:15 AM
fricking hell im glad its not the typical black actor that Hollywood like to cast.

@teabag

Luther is great no way that is crap.

@imnotwearinghockeypants

Ryan Reynolds will alway be Van Wilder. i think i rather be Stringer Bell than Van Wilder lol
CrashTest
CrashTest - 6/22/2011, 11:46 AM
I'm with. Would be a great team up
AlexDeLarge87
AlexDeLarge87 - 6/22/2011, 12:07 PM
SelinaKyle@ True!;) He was ok back in the day but now he is just Cruise in every movie he makes. I really hope he doesnt end up playing Jack Reacher in movie based on Lee Child´s Jack Reacher books like it has been rumored.

I cant wait to see this and Prometheus!:)
TopCat89
TopCat89 - 6/22/2011, 1:01 PM
He's awesome in the BBC series 'Luther'
nuck82
nuck82 - 6/22/2011, 3:05 PM
cant wait to see what this movie will look like, sounds cool, hope it doesnt turn into a syfy channel movie
AGENTJAY1130
AGENTJAY1130 - 6/22/2011, 3:06 PM
OH YEAH!!!! THEY HIT THE JACK POT ON THIS ACTOR!!! CRUISE IM SORRY BUT YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED IN THIS LINE OF WORK!!!
NeoBaggins
NeoBaggins - 6/22/2011, 5:21 PM
Wow, I didn't think I'd see the typical dumbass comment until way down the page. Anyway, Elba is obviously the man. Great guy, quality actor and he's getting his due.

Awesome.
Techinsane
Techinsane - 6/22/2011, 7:53 PM
About bloody time too he got a good juicy role, he was great in takers, so I think he will fit right in no matter what he does. I have a sneaky feeling his role in Thor helped. Go on my son!
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