Idris Elba to Star in The Mountains Between Us

After tapping Michael B. Jordan to play the Human Torch in Fantastic Four, 20th Century Fox is embracing colourblind casting once again, as Idris Elba is in negotiations to star in adaptation of Charles Martin’s best-selling novel The Mountains Between Us.

The story follows a male doctor and a female writer who’s engaged to be married who both survive a plane crash in the mountains. The doctor suffers broken ribs while she sustains a leg fracture, and he must use his climbing skills to get her down the mountain to safety.

Hany Abu-Assad would be directing and the script is written by Chris Weitz as Peter Chernin and Jenno Topping of Chernin Entertainment are producing the movie. Fox 2000 executive Marisa Paive will oversee the project on behalf of the studio. The filmmakers continue to search for the film’s female lead, who is expected to be white, though actresses of all races are currently being considered.

Charlie Hunnam and Rosamund Pike were previously attached to star, but since race isn’t essential to either character, Fox execs thought Elba best suited for the romantic role.