Idris Elba was reportedly considered for the title role in Quentin Tarantino’s 2012 film Django Unchained, but Jamie Foxx ultimately won the part. Foxx later said he had tried to discourage Elba from pursuing it, while Tarantino suggested Elba’s British nationality made him unsuitable for a story rooted in the American South.

Foxx’s casting helped Django Unchained earn about $450 million worldwide on a $100 million budget and win two Oscars from five nominations. Elba’s career remained strong: he appeared in Prometheus, which grossed roughly $400 million, and has since continued work across film and television.