Idris Elba Eyeing The Gunman

Idris Elba, last seen aboard the doomed ship Prometheus and soon to be seen in Pacific Rim, is eyeing a role opposite Sean Penn in The Gunman.  Pierre Morel has already recruited Javier Bardem to star opposite Penn but it’s looking increasingly likely Elba could join the star powered film.  The Gunman, based on Jean-Patrick Manchette’s novel, will see Penn as a lethal secret operative who is betrayed by his superiors and sets out across Europe to have his revenge against them.  Elba is in talks to take on the role of another operative known as Dupont.  The script has been written by Dredd director Pete Travis with production set to start in Europe later this month.  Before that Elba will be seen in Thor: The Dark World before starring as Nelson Mandela in biopic Mandela: A Long Walk To Freedom.  Source – The Hollywood Reporter