Exclusive: Idris Elba Is Returning To The Marvel Universe

The latest Giant Freakin Robot exclusive has Idris Elba returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He could be part of some upcoming films

By Doug Norrie | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

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In the world of comic book movies, things can always change, and deaths can be anything but permanent. We are playing with a loose set of “rules” even in the best of times. And now with the introduction of the Multiverse, Marvel characters can always be brought back if need be. Such is the case with the latest Giant Freakin Robot exclusive from our trusted and proven sources. It looks like Idris Elba is returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the deal is basically done. Heimdall will be coming back despite having lost his life during the events of the Avengers timeline. 

While it isn’t clear when we will see Idris Elba back up on the big screen in his Asgardian greatness, it is awesome to know that we haven’t seen the last of him in this world. Our sources weren’t clear on when this might happen, but we do know there is another Thor movie coming down the pike. That’s going to be Thor: Love and Thunder which is set to release in July of next year. Could that be the first glimpse we get of him from beyond the proverbial comic book grave? It would make sense considering where we’ve seen him in the past. 

Idris Elba played Heimdall, the Asgardian guard of the Bifrost Bridge. He first appeared in Thor and then reprised the role in The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Thor: Ragnarok, and then finally in Avengers: Infinity War. It was in this movie that his character lost his life. While protecting the remaining Asgardians and then by proxy, the entirety of the known universe, he used his powers to send Bruce Banner/ Hulk hurtling back to Earth to Doctor Strange to warn that Thanos was coming. It was then that Thanos stabbed him. 

idris elba

But Idris Elba has been hinting that though it would appear he was done with Marvel, that was anything but the case. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, he had mentioned that Heimdall “still exists” in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This was him playing a little coy, but with this new exclusive lending credence to the idea that he is coming back, it’s clear that Elba knew this to be in the cards. 

And how can a character die but still come back into the mix? While we don’t know the modality they will use with Idris Elba, the possibilities are plentiful. For starters, there’s the Multiverse which began its run during the events of Loki. Could we see Tom Hiddleston’s character run across Heimdall in a future season? Possibly. The Multiverse opens up the possibility that a different version of the character exists in another timeline. Plus, it’s not like this Idris Elba character is strictly human either. Who knows how death presents itself to an Asgardian like him? Whatever path they choose, it is sure to make sense in the context of how Marvel is handling its characters. 

As for Idris Elba, he has a couple of high-profile productions set to come out sooner than later. He is voicing Knuckles the Echidna in Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and will also star in George Miller’s Three Thousand Years of Longing with Tilda Swinton. Before long will catch him in the Asgardian gear in the Marvel Universe.