Idris Elba is moving to Africa to tap into growing movie scene

English histrion Idris Elba accidental he’s readying to determination to Africa to beryllium a portion of a increasing movie manufacture that includes studios he’s progressive with successful Tanzania and his mother’s homeland of Ghana.

“It’s going to happen,” the 52-year-old prima of “The Wire” told the BBC. “I deliberation successful the adjacent 5 [to]10 years, God willing.”

According to Elba, supporting Africa’s movie manufacture isn’t thing helium tin bash remotely. But helium doesn’t program to settee down successful 1 peculiar country.

“I’m going to effort and spell wherever they’re telling stories,” the Emmy-nominated histrion said. “That’s truly important.”

Elba’s galore memorable roles see his 2013 portrayal of South African President Nelson Mandela successful “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.” He besides starred successful the 2015 warfare flick “Beasts of No Nation,” which took spot successful Ghana.

Elba sees untapped imaginable successful places similar the Ghanaian superior of Accra, which aren’t arsenic often seen connected the large surface arsenic commonly filmed cities similar New York and Los Angeles. According to the actor, moviegoers who lone spot Africa depicted arsenic a war-torn onshore of trauma and despair aren’t seeing the full picture.

“When you travel to Africa, you volition recognize that it’s not true,” said Elba, whose dad is from Sierra Leone.

The London autochthonal is possibly champion known to American audiences arsenic measured and ambitious cause kingpin Russell “Stringer” Bell from HBO’s “The Wire.” He’s besides starred arsenic Heimdall successful the “Thor” franchise, and gained captious acclaim for his enactment successful the rubric relation of the BBC transgression play “Luther.”

Despite making it wide that playing James Bond is “not a goal,” Elba’s sanction often pops up erstwhile rumors originate that the franchise is looking for a caller starring man.

He’s besides a rapper, DJ and grounds producer, known successful the music world arsenic DJ Big Driis. He opened for Madonna successful 2015 erstwhile she performed arsenic portion of her Rebel Heart Tour successful Berlin. He’s been featured connected albums from rappers including Jay-Z and Macklemore, and has collaborated with artists from Nigeria and Sierra Leone.