When Empire caught up with Idris Elba for the latest issue – he’s this month’s The Empire Interview – we couldn’t resist asking him about his hugely ambitious next film project. Fresh from making his directorial debut with gangster drama Yardie, Elba has something even bigger lined up for his second film behind the camera – a fresh take on The Hunchback of Notre Dame which he’ll direct, produce, star in and produce the music for.
Speaking about the “incredibly daunting” Netflix project, Elba seems clear about his vision for the adaption. “The film at the moment lives entirely in my brain,” he says. “I’m very fortunate to have a classic tale to reinvent. So now it’s about how I execute it. I’m definitely taking on more than I’ve ever taken on in any other project, with the hats that I’m wearing. But, hey, man, that’s why I’m here. I’m an entertainer, right? I liken it to an athlete being asked to do a triathlon: okay, show me what you really got.”
The full interview with Elba sees him waxing lyrical about Yardie, the reaction to The Dark Tower, and why playing Nelson Mandela meant so much to him – and you can read the whole thing in Empire’s September issue, on sale from 9 August. Pre-order a copy online here{
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