Maybe my suggestion that Idris Elba’s meeting with “a very controversial director for a very controversial part” had nothing to do with Django Unchained, may not have been so inconceivable.

The Wrap is reporting exclusively that Elba is wanted for a starring role in Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming epic sci-fi film Pacific Rim – a movie that’s said to be “set in a future in which malevolent creatures threaten the earth,” and thus “the planet must band together and use highly advanced technology to eradicate the growing menace.“

I couldn’t find any info on what character exactly he’d be playing in this; the top role has already been given to Charlie Hunnam; so, if there is indeed interest in Elba to star in the film, it would be one of the secondary leads.

But The Wrap calls the del Toro project “a biggie.” Although, In should note that I wouldn’t put Guillermo del Toro in the “very controversial director” camp either.

Regardless, there’s apparently growing interest in Idris, from Ridley Scott’s secretive sci-fi project, Prometheus, which is currently shooting in the UK, to Django Unchained rumors, and now del Toro’s Pacific Rim. These are all fairly large projects that will play in thousands of theaters across the country and the world; and, assuming he’s present in all of them, will get more exposure in the next 2 or so years that each of these films is released, than he’s ever had.

He’s also in the upcoming Ghost Rider sequel.

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