Idris Elba Directing and Starring in ‘Infernus’

Elba is stepping up to direct his second movie, which will see him battling both the terrible treatment of asylum seekers and a criminal mastermind.

Idris Elba as John Luther in 'Luther: The Fallen Sun.'

Though it sounds like the sort of movie that would have Gerard Butler growling dialogue and firing guns, new action thriller ‘Infernus’ actually has Idris Elba on board to star, according to Deadline.

But that’s not all: the actor will also direct and produce the movie.

This mark’s Elba’s second time in a feature director’s chair, following on from 2018 crime drama ‘Yardie’.

And he does have form in action movies –– witness his turns in the likes of ‘Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw,' ‘The Suicide Squad’ and ‘The Take’. And while they’re usually more about brooding crime-solving, both ‘Luther’ the series and its recent movie spin-off ‘The Fallen Sun’ had their share of action.

‘Infernus’, though, promises to be something different.

Infernus

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U.N. human rights activist Donovan Kamara is sent to investigate reports of refugees being illegally detained inside a U.S. black site prison. A seemingly simple... Read the Plot

What’s the story of ‘Infernus’?

Elba will play Donovan Kamara, a U.N. human rights activist sent to investigate reports of refugees being illegally detained inside a U.S. black site prison. A seemingly simple task turns deadly when the world’s most dangerous inmates break free. Kamara must work to safely extricate the refugees, all while going head-to-head with a brilliant criminal mastermind.

With the story crafted by Tom Boyle and the screenplay written by Robert Mark Kamen, Elba will kick off shooting on the movie on October 9th in London.

While most filming will be done in London, additional principal photography will take place in the new TD Akuna Studios in Ghana, a venture Elba — who has both Ghanaian and Sierre Leonean lineage — and partners Tony Tagoe and Danny Damah developed in order to help build the region’s film industry.

Here’s what Elba had to say about ‘Infernus’,

“I’m excited to be back in the director’s chair, partnering with Millennium Media. '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.”

Jeffrey Greenstein, president at backers Millennium Media, is also enthused:

“It’s with great pleasure that we have the opportunity to create an entertaining and action-packed film alongside Idris, who in addition to being incredibly talented, is such a genuine and profound individual. We look forward to delivering a high-octane popcorn film that has character and soul, as well as an underlying message about the call for higher standards for mankind.”

Before he appears in that movie, though, Elba will be seen in Apple TV+’s new thriller series ‘Hijack’, about a plane seized on its way to London, and is filming Amazon’s action pic ‘Heads of State’, which also boasts his ‘The Suicide Squad’ co-star John Cena. And let’s not forget he’s the voice of ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ spin-off character Knuckles in the new series based on the CG Echidna.