Legendary Circling Idris Elba for Guillermo del Toro’s ‘Pacific Rim’

Exclusive: The Legendary Pictures sci-fi film stars Charlie Hunnam

EXCLUSIVE

Idris Elba's fire just got a little hotter: Legendary Pictures is interested in the "Thor" and "28 Weeks Later" actor for Guillermo del Toro's sci-fi film "Pacific Rim," TheWrap has learned.

Elba, who played Russell "Stringer" Bell in HBO's "The Wire" is generating huge interest lately. There's talk that he's in contention for the role of Django in Quentin Tarantino's upcoming "Django Unchained." The other actor most often named for the role: Will Smith.

The del Toro film is a biggie. It stars Charlie Hunnam and is set in a future in which an alien attack threatens the existence of earth. Humans battle the nasty and brutal creatures by piloting giant robots.

Elba is now filming "Prometheus" with Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron. His "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance" is in postproduction at Columbia Pictures. In that movie, he stars with Nicolas Cage.

Travis Beacham wrote the screenplay and Legendary Pictures' Jon Jashni and Thomas Tull are producing. 

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