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Russell “Stringer” Bell (‘The Wire’) -

Elba had a breakthrough performance in ‘The Wire’ as Stringer Bell, a ruthless drug kingpin who runs the Barksdale Organization.

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Russell “Stringer” Bell (‘The Wire’) -

Elba played the character from 2002 to 2004, introducing the actor to an American audience and showcasing his best American accent.

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Tango (‘American Gangster’) -

Elba returned three years later with a role in the crime film ‘American Gangster.' Idris played Tango in the film, a quick-footed gangster who forms a rivalry with Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington).

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Tango (‘American Gangster’) -

He also got involved with Jay-Z’s album of the same name, which featured vocals and production from the actor.

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Mumbles (‘RocknRolla’) -

Elba kept the roles coming in 2008, starring in Guy Ritchie’s crime comedy ‘RocknRolla.'

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Mumbles (‘RocknRolla’) -

He played Mumbles, a henchman who works with Handsome Bob (Tom Hardy).

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Charles Miner (‘The Office’) -

The actor made a great career move in 2009, joining the cast of ‘The Office’ as Charles Miner.

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Charles Miner (‘The Office’) -

Miner is a company vice president who comically interferes with Michael Scott’s carefree management style.  

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DCI John Luther (‘Luther’) -

‘Luther’ was Elba's first titular role. He plays an unorthodox cop who’s plagued with plenty of emotional demons.

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DCI John Luther (‘Luther’) -

Elba played Luther for five seasons, from 2010 to 2019. While a season 6 didn't happen, a movie based on the series was released in 2023.

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Heimdall (‘Thor’) -

‘Thor’ wasn’t Elba’s first superhero film, but it featured his strongest character. The actor played the role of Heimdall, an all-seeing and all-hearing god.

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Heimdall (‘Thor’) - It was director Kenneth Branagh who convinced Elba to take the role. Elba told Entertainment Weekly that Branagh called him up personally to convince him.

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Stacker Pentecost (‘Pacific Rim’) -

Elba kept the sci-fi roles coming in 2013. He starred as Stacker Pentecost in ‘Pacific Rim,’ a military general tasked with fighting monstrous sea creatures.

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Stacker Pentecost (‘Pacific Rim’) -

According to IMDb, Tom Cruise was originally considered for the role.

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Nelson Mandela (‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’) -

Elba went big for this role in 2013. He starred as Nelson Mandela in ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,' which followed the activist’s life from childhood to becoming the president of South Africa.

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Nelson Mandela (‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’) -

After completing the film, Elba was filled with musical inspiration. He released an album, ‘Idris Elba Presents Mi Mandela,' one year later.

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Commandant (‘Beasts of No Nation’) -

In 2015, Elba took on the role of Commandant in ‘Beasts of No Nation.' Elba played the leader of a rebel army that uses child soldiers to fight vicious battles.

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Commandant (‘Beasts of No Nation’) -

This is perhaps Elba’s most-acclaimed role. He won a Screen Actors Guild Award for the performance.

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Chief Bogo (‘Zootopia’) -

We move on to more lighthearted territory with ‘Zootopia.' Elba played a buffalo police chief in the film. Bogo is grumpy and pessimistic. Still, he warms to Officer Judy Hopps, a police rabbit from the small town of Bunnyburrow.

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Shere Khan (‘The Jungle Book’) - Elba kept things animated in 2016. He voiced the menacing tiger, Shere Khan, in a remake of 'The Jungle Book.'

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Shere Khan (‘The Jungle Book’) -

Elba was one of the first voices to be announced for ‘The Jungle Book.' It was a highly praised performance.

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Krall (‘Star Trek Beyond’) -

Elba did motion capture for ‘Star Trek Beyond,' the third film in the rebooted ‘Star Trek’ series.

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Krall (‘Star Trek Beyond’) -

Krall was once a noble captain, but turned into a mutated human warlord who searches for destruction.

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Roland Deschain (‘The Dark Tower’) -

For 'The Dark Tower,' Elba played Roland Deschain, the last of the Gunslingers who battles Walter O'Dim for rule over the Dark Tower.

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Roland Deschain (‘The Dark Tower’) -

Elba picked the film because of director and co-writer Nikolaj Arcel. Unfortunately, it didn't do very well with the critics.

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Charlie Jaffey (‘Molly’s Game’) -

Elba took on another crime role in ‘Molly’s Game.' He starred as Charlie Jaffey, lawyer for FBI target Molly Bloom, who runs a high-stakes poker ring in Los Angeles.

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Charlie Jaffey (‘Molly’s Game’) -

Elba had only 10 days to film ‘Molly’s Game’ with co-star Jessica Chastain. According to IMDb, they shot 45 pages of script in six days.

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The Director (‘Yardie’) -

Elba took on a role unlike any other in 2018. He adapted the novel ‘Yardie’ into a film, with himself serving as director.

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The Director (‘Yardie’) -

It was Elba’s first film as director, but unfortunately it didn't go down very well with critics.

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'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw' - In this film from the 'Fast & Furious' franchise, Elba stars as the genetically enhanced villain Brixton Lore.

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'Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw' -

The movie received generally positive reviews from critics, and made a boom at the box office.

See also: Long-running film franchises we love

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