Though he was unsuccessful in snagging the services of Idris Elba to once again mentor Charlie Hunnam – this time in King Arthur instead of Pacific Rim – Guy Ritchie is looking to replace him by once again raiding the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has Guardians Of The Galaxy’s Djimon Hounsou in talks for a role.
If he does make a deal, Hounsou will take the part that is reportedly a version of Bedivere, who is credited in many of the interpretations of Arthurian legend as a noble and loyal member of the King’s knights. In Ritchie’s take – which features a script by Edge Of Tomorrow producer Joby Harold – he’s apparently an older, wiser warrior and a right-hand man to Arthur’s father who makes it his mission to train the young man for his true destiny.
The film finds Hunnam growing into his role as Arthur, with Astrid Bergès-Frisbey as Guinevere and Jude Law in talks to be the unspecified villain of at least the first film. Warner Bros. is hoping that this can kick off a six-film series that lets the story unfurl across the franchise.
Hounsou has plenty of films on the horizon, including Fast And Furious 7, which squeals in on April 3. Before that, and in keeping with the numerical theme, he’ll be seen in fantasy adventure Seventh Son, due March 27 after a raft of release dates have come and gone. And on an even bigger scale, he has a prime role in David Yates’ Tarzan, which doesn’t have a set UK date, but should arrive on screens in 2016.