Idris Elba to direct and star in new prison action-thriller

Virgin Radio

15 May 2023, 09:20

Luther legend Idris Elba is not only set to star in a new movie, but he will also direct and produce it.

Having definitively ruled himself out of playing James Bond, the actor will reportedly work on an action-thriller called Infernus, which will tell the story of Donovan Kamara, a UN human rights activist sent to investigate reports of refugees being illegally detained inside a US black site prison. 

The task turns deadly when the world’s most dangerous inmates break free and Kamara finds himself having to safely extricate the refugees, while at the same time going head-to-head with a criminal mastermind.

As reported by Deadline, the film will be based on a story by Tom Boyle, and production is set to start later this year. Much of the filming will take place in London, with some also happening at the new TD Akuna Studios in Ghana. The screenplay is written by Robert Mark Kamen.

This will be Elba’s second time helming a movie, after he made his directorial debut back in 2018, with Yardie.

Expressing that he is “excited to be back in the director’s chair”, the star said: “Infernus is a gripping thriller with a relevant and intimate human story at its core. Thanks to the brilliant writing of Robert and Tom, we have some exceptional characters. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity both in front and behind the camera, filming across Europe, as well as bringing our production to Africa, which has an emerging film community that we are proud to be supporting.”

As well as this new project, the star of The Wire is also reportedly set to take on none other than Lewis Hamilton in a real-life race across the desert, as part of a as part of a two-part show for Channel 4.

The actor was recently back as DCI John Luther for a feature-length Netflix movie, Luther: The Fallen Sun. Speaking to virginradio.co.uk and other press from the red carpet at the BFI IMAX in Waterloo in March, he said: “I think this is the beginning of a new chapter, so we can see more Luther.”