James Gunn’s New DCU Slate Leaves Little Room for Idris Elba

Idris Elba is not bailing on Hollywood, but he is putting a timeline on acting. The plan: pivot into directing, and eventually hang up the on-screen gigs. That has some ripple effects, especially if you were hoping to see more of his DC antihero, Bloodsport.

So, is Idris Elba really stepping away from acting?

Not overnight. Elba says he still loves acting, but he wants to spend his time behind the camera and start steering the kinds of stories he cares about.

"I’ve been acting for a long time. I love it still, but I think directing allows me to flex slightly different muscles and just be a part of the set in a different way. I really enjoy it."

Translation: the shift is happening, and a full acting retirement is on his horizon.

What that means for James Gunn and the DCU

Elba made his DC debut as Bloodsport in 2021’s The Suicide Squad, and the character quickly became a fan favorite. James Gunn, now co-head of the DCU, has openly said he’s been trying to find the right spot to bring Bloodsport back. He told Entertainment Weekly he’s "always looking for a place" for the character, which, in Hollywood-speak, means ideas have been kicked around for a spin-off or cameo.

Elba’s on the same page about where Bloodsport could go. In 2022, he told Variety he wants to explore the storyline where Bloodsport shoots Superman with a Kryptonite bullet — essentially, a straight-up Bloodsport vs. Superman chapter. If Elba is phasing out acting, Gunn might need to move quickly if he wants that showdown to actually happen with Elba in the suit.

What kind of stories Elba wants to direct

Elba has been clear about his goals: avoid stereotypes and focus on stories centered on Black characters and Africa, without boxing those stories into the usual lanes. His next directing project is called "This is How It Goes." Originally, the story was about a Black man married to a white woman. Elba bought the rights and flipped the dynamic — now it’s a white man married to a Black woman, and a Black man moves into their house. He describes it as a sharp look at marriage, trust, and race. It’s a smart tweak that says a lot about the lens he wants to bring to his films.

What’s actually on his slate right now

Even with the directing pivot, Elba still has a handful of acting roles lined up while he builds out his projects behind the camera (via IMDb):

• Duncan/Man-at-Arms — "Masters of the Universe"
• Lekan — "Children of Blood and Bone"
• Knuckles (voice) — "Sonic the Hedgehog 4"
• Barrel (voice) — "High in the Clouds"
• John Luther — untitled "Luther: The Fallen Sun" sequel
• Director — "This is How It Goes"
• Director — "Infernus"
• Director — "Above the Below"

The takeaway

Short-term: you’ll still see Idris Elba on screen. Long-term: he wants to be the one calling the shots. That’s exciting for the kinds of films that don’t get made nearly enough — and a bit of a headache for the DCU if Gunn was counting on Bloodsport as a recurring player. If Gunn wants Elba back in the helmet, the window might be narrower than fans hoped.