Idris Elba is eyeing Guy Ritchie's King Arthur

Actor Idris Elba is in talks to join Warner Bros' King Arthur, a film that will be directed by Guy Ritchie. Elba, 41, is expected to play a Merlin-esque figure who trains and mentors Arthur in the film set to release in July next year.

hollywood Updated: Jul 23, 2014 14:10 IST

PTI

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Actor Idris Elba is in talks to join Warner Bros' King Arthur film to be directed by Guy Ritchie. Elba, 41, is expected to play a Merlin-esque figure who trains and mentors Arthur, according to Variety.

Joby Harold has penned the script and is producing with Akiva Goldsman and Tory Tunnell. The film is set to release on July 22, 2016. Ritchie has apparently been meeting with actors over the past few months for the film.

The most recent King Arthur adaptation was a 2004 version starring Clive Owen and Keira Knightley.

Elba would be next seen in No Good Deed opposite Taraji P Henson and The Gunman alongside Sean Penn. He will also voice Shere Khan in Disney's The Jungle Book adaptation.

Also see: Tales of King Arthur were written in lost Oxford