Snatch and Sherlock Holmes director Guy Ritchie has chosen the actor he wants to play King Arthur for him in a currently untitled upcoming Warner Brothers project.

Sons of Anarchy and Pacific Rim star Charlie Hunnam is in final negotiations to play the iconic character best known for pulling the sword from the stone and his Knights of the Round Table.

Hunnam’s Pacific Rim co-star Idris Elba is said to be up for the role of Merlin, Arthur’s trainer and mentor, while Elizabeth Olsen is the frontrunner to play the female lead…though it’s not clear if that will be Guinevere or someone else.

Warner Bros. has been trying to make a King Arthur movie happen for many years now. Once upon a time it was titled Excalibur with X-Men director Bryan Singer attached to make it. Another attempt was titled Arthur & Lancelot, which had Game of Thrones star Kit Harington and The Killing star Joel Kinnaman set to play the title roles. Another attempt had Colin Farrell lined up to play Arthur and Gary Oldman set for Merlin.

And though they’ve had trouble getting the project into production, WB certainly has big, big plans for their King Arthur movie. Joby Harold, who set up the project at the studio, has written the first screenplay in what’s intended to be a six-film franchise…if all goes well, of course.

The movie is currently residing in the July 22, 2016 release date slot.

[Source: Deadline l Variety]