Exclusive News - Idris Elba to star in an official Nelson Mandela biopic

Idris “Stringer Bell” Elba, the star of HBO’s The Wire and the BBC’s Luther, is about to sign on to play the role of Nelson Mandela in an “official” biopic of the man, to start filming sometime next year.

You’d hope Elba doesn’t receive the same criticism as when he played Heimdall, a Norse God character in Thor, for being black.

Following his breakthrough as drug kingpin Stringer Bell in The Wire, the British actor has enjoyed a growing reputation in Hollywood, with appearances in films such as 28 Weeks Later, American Gangster, RocknRolla, Prom Night, The Unborn, Obsessed, Takers and The Losers, along with his Golden Globe-nominated turn in the detective series Luther.

Idris Elba will next be seen in the superhero sequel Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, with his other upcoming releases including Ridley Scott’s Alien prequel, Prometheus, and Guillermo del Toro’s Pacific Rim.

Oli Davis