New photos from Idris Elba’s upcoming Netflix series Turn Up Charlie have been unveiled ahead of its premiere this spring. The first-look stills show a lighter side to the reigning People’s Sexiest Man Alive, as most fans associate Elba with gritty tough-guy roles on dramas like The Wire and Luther.
A fresh UK comedy series from the streaming giant, Turn Up Charlie will center around Elba’s character Charlie - a failed DJ and seemingly eternal bachelor who is trying to relaunch his career. Charlie is given "one last chance" at success, which involves working as a nanny for his famous best friend who has an 11-year-old "wild child" daughter named Gabby, played by Frankie Hervey. Without much else in the way of options, Charlie reluctantly accepts and is forced out of his comfort zone as he learns to think about the needs of someone else above his own. Elba co-created and executive produced the series with Gary Reich, while also starring alongside Piper Perabo and JJ Feild.
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Per Deadline, Netflix has released five new photos from the series and has set a premiere date of Friday, March 15. The photos include two solo shots of Elba working the turntables, as well as one each of Elba with Hervey, Perabo, and Feild. The series will consist of eight half-hour episodes and will feature both Tristram Shapeero and Matt Lipsey as directors.
While the series’ tone may be a bit of a shift from what Elba is used to (outside of his work on The Office), the background of the role is not. That’s because prior to acting, Elba started his career as a DJ in East London and has put his skills on display at shows in London, New York City, and even a 15-week residency at the glamorous Lio in Ibiza this past summer. Still, Elba is well known for starring in the brutish crime drama Luther on BBC, which recently released its trailer for season 5. Since premiering in 2010, Luther has capitalized on the popular antihero trend and helped accelerate Elba’s career with more recognizable roles like Heimdall in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Whether this is an attempt to break free of the tough-guy mold or just an actor falling in love with a project remains to be seen. Elba, however, is certainly no stranger to challenging himself with roles that might seem outside his comfort zone, as he is also reportedly set to join Universal’s upcoming Cats movie as the criminal mastermind Macavity. It would seem that for now, James Bond can wait.
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Turn Up Charlie premieres Friday, March 15 on Netflix.
Source: Deadline