An old connection between King Charles and Sir Idris Elba has resurfaced on social media, days after the monarch knighted the “Luther” star at Windsor Castle.

Long before the royal honor, the actor had already credited Charles with playing a life-changing role in his journey.

Elba’s knighthood comes amid suggestions that he was among the leading candidates considered to replace Tom Hardy following the latter’s dismissal from the set of “MobLand.”

The “Wire” actor has also recently stated that, despite years of speculation, he was never actually in contention for the lead role in the James Bond franchise.

Idris Elba’s Old Prince’s Trust Story Resurfaces After King Charles Knighthood

Elba’s knighthood has renewed attention on a little-known connection between the actor and King Charles that actually stretches back decades.

Long before becoming a global star, Elba was a teenager from East London trying to break into acting when he received support from Charles’s the King’s Trust, then known as the Prince’s Trust.

Founded in 1976 to help disadvantaged young people access opportunities, the charity provided Elba with a grant that enabled him to pursue training with the National Youth Music Theatre.

Reflecting on the support years later, he credited the Trust with altering the course of his life, saying it “set me on the path that would eventually change my life.”

After officially receiving his knighthood, fans on social media quickly recalled the connection between Elba and the king, with a user on Reddit noting, “He’s been involved with the Trust for years, too. It’d be hard for him to turn a knighthood down. Anyway, congratulations to him!”

Elba Reportedly Considered As Possible Tom Hardy Replacement

Elba was reportedly considered a possible replacement for Hardy on “MobLand” amid tensions between producers and the “Taboo” star, even before his alleged firing.

Page Six reported that, as filming for Season 2 wrapped, Hardy revealed that he did not want to return for a third season, having grown displeased with the show’s creative direction. Still, he remained committed to fully promoting the series, even as it became increasingly clear to the showrunners that he would need to be replaced.

It was during this period that they reportedly reached out to Elba after another high-profile star passed on the role. Elba was said to be considering the part before news broke that Hardy had been fired, which may have paused any such discussions due to the ongoing drama.

Idris Elba Shuts Down James Bond Casting Rumors

Outside of the “MobLand” connection, Elba has long been linked to the possibility of taking on the mantle of James Bond.

The most recent Bond film, “No Time to Die,” was released in 2021 and marked the end of Daniel Craig’s tenure as the legendary British spy.

Elba’s casting would have been a dramatic development, as he would have become the first Black actor to portray Bond. However, the likelihood of that happening now appears to have faded significantly after he recently stated that he was never actually in contention for the role.

“I’m honestly not in the race ever. I wasn’t in the race in the first place,” the actor told People Magazine at last month’s Los Angeles premiere of his new movie, “Masters of the Universe.”

The Actor Says ‘Bond’ Producers Are ‘Going Younger’

Over the years, several actors have portrayed Bond, with most between the ages of 32 and 45 when they first stepped into the role.

Elba is currently 53, a factor that appears particularly relevant given his recent comments about the creative direction the franchise’s producers are reportedly pursuing for future installments.

“My name’s not getting thrown out, no way,” Elba also said during the premiere appearance. “They’re going younger. And I wish them all the luck of the world. I can’t wait, it’s going to be amazing.”

Among the actors currently tipped to become the next Bond are Theo James, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Jacob Elordi.

Idris Elba Previously Welcomed James Bond Speculation

Despite his current misgivings about his chances of being cast, Elba has previously said that being associated with the James Bond role was something he greatly appreciated.

Speaking on the “SmartLess” podcast in 2023, the actor described the attention as a “huge compliment” and compared it to being named People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2018.

“We’re all actors, and we understand that that role is one of those sorts of coveted types. It’s like being named Sexiest Man,” Elba said. “But being asked to be James Bond was like, ‘Okay, you’ve sort of reached the pinnacle.'”

However, once the conversation around his potential casting became entangled in controversy over race, it quickly became an association Elba wanted to distance himself from.

“Those that weren’t happy about the idea made the whole thing disgusting and off-putting, because it became about race. It became about nonsense, and I got the brunt of it,” he added.