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Guillermo Del Toro has locked in his second actor to drive a giant robot in a battle with aliens.

Idris Elba, best known as Stringer Bell on The Wire and also recently seen in Thor, will now officially join Charlie Hunnam in Pacific Rim, the upcoming film from the director of Hellboy and Pan’s Labyrinth. Elba will reportedly play a leading role as a character named Sensi in the epic battle film about humans developing giant robots to battle aliens who invade the Earth on both sides of the Pacific.

Deadline broke the news of the casting and said that Elba’s role was originally developed for Tom Cruise, who was excited to work with Del Toro on In the Mountains of Madness before that project died and the director moved to Pacific Rim. Cruise has already settled on another sci-fi starring vehicle though (Joseph Kosinski’s Oblivion) leaving the role open for Elba.

Elba was up for Django Unchained, is currently shooting Prometheus with Ridley Scott and then he’ll move to Pacific Rim.

Pacific Rim is scheduled for release in 2013.