We see more of him in this short clip than we do in the trailer. And it’s not much of a clip. Hopefully he’s given more to do than light Sean Penn’s cigarettes, and deliver speeches filled with epigrams (see my "Is Idris Elba a Hollywood Leading Man Yet?" post from a few months ago). 

The actor joins Sean Penn and Javier Bardem in director Pierre Morel’s action thriller, "The Gunman," which is based on the novel, "The Prone Gunman," by Jean-Patrick Manchette.

The story, which was adapted to script by Peter Travis, goes: "Martin Terrier is a hired killer who wants out of the game – so he can settle down and marry his childhood sweetheart. After all, that’s why he took up this profession! But the Organization won’t let him go: they have other plans. For one more time, the gunman must assume the prone shooting position. A tour de force, this violent tale shatters as many illusions about life and politics as bodies."

The age-old "one last job before I retire" — "just when I thought I was out, they pull me back In" sub-sub-sub genre(s).

Idris Elba Sean Penn plays the hired killer who wants out. 

Meanwhile, Elba plays a "mysterious operative named Dupont." It reminds me of the singular name of the character he played in another movie he didn’t star in, also with a white male lead – "Ghost Rider 2." His character’s name in that was Moreau; both French names.

The European production, backed by Studio Canal, is being set up as a potential franchise of "Gunman" films for Penn. He’ll be joining the likes of Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, and other middle-aged actors with action franchises (or potential action franchises) on their resumes. And, by the way, "The Gunman" is directed by the same fellow who directed Liam Neeson in "Taken."

“The Gunman” hits theaters on March 20, 2015.

New *exciting* clip from the film below: