Idris Elba joins cast of Guillermo del Toro's PACIFIC RIM

Idris Elba has joined the cast of Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi action film Pacific Rim. Deadline reports that Elba will play the lead role of Sensei in the film that gets underway in November from Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros produced by Jon Jashni and Thomas Tull. Elba joins Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) in the role that was developed for Tom Cruise.

I really am happy to see Elba getting more lead roles. He has starred in a number of supporting roles, but his roles in The Wire and Luther have shown the he is a solid actor. It would have been amazing if he had been cast in the lead role of Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained, but it looks as though that is not going to happen. Tarantino has been really pushing to get Will Smith for the part, but that has not come to fruition, so it looks like the role will go to Jamie Foxx. Even though his part in Thorwas small, he was perfect for that part. Elba is currently shooting Prometheus for director Ridley Scott and 20th Century Fox.

What are your thoughts on this news?