After more than three decades in the entertainment industry, Idris Elba suggests he might soon retire from acting.
Known for his roles in Luther, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and being a potential successor for James Bond, Elba’s presence in Hollywood is undeniable.
However, the 53-year-old Golden Globe recipient is contemplating exploring new avenues and possibly ending his acting career on a high note.
According to the Daily Mail, during a Q&A session at the Red Sea International Film Festival on Wednesday, Elba shared insights into his future aspirations, which might surprise some.
“I’m hoping that my fan base as an actor isn’t mad at me, but eventually I want to transfer to be a director fully,” he mentioned while attending the film festival in Saudi Arabia.
“I’ve been acting for a long time. I love it still, but I think directing allows me to flex slightly different muscles and just be a part of the set in a different way. I really enjoy it.”
Transitioning to directing from acting isn’t unusual in Hollywood, with many actors having successfully made the shift to behind-the-camera roles.
Besides directing, Elba is also contemplating furthering his education to enhance his understanding when engaging with global leaders and politicians.
“I’ve found myself feeling like an imposter in the political arena. I’ve found myself in arenas with heads of states and ministers talking about things that are way above my pay grade,” he confessed.
Despite this, Elba clarified that he has no political ambitions and assured his fans that a political career is not on his agenda.
‘I don’t want to be a politician,” he stated. “But I think there’s something quite appealing about educating myself to step into those arenas with more experience of how to make change.
“As an actor, you get offered these incredible opportunities to sit on a stage or meet a head of state. I often feel like I am just living off my instinct rather than my knowledge.”
When discussing potential academic pursuits, Elba mentioned: “There is a possibility that I may go to school and just study human science, not political science, because I think humans respond to humans regardless of whether it’s politics or sports. It’s about humans.”
‘I’d like to maybe study that so that I can be more effective when it comes to some of the philanthropy work I’ve been doing and some of the activism work.”
Throughout his career, Elba has backed numerous causes he’s passionate about, such as a campaign against knife crime in the UK, promoting diversity in the arts globally, and advocating for food security and sustainable agriculture in developing nations.
While Elba has outlined his future plans, fans can rest assured that retirement isn’t happening just yet, as he has several projects lined up, including Sonic the Hedgehog 4 and Masters of the Universe.
It has also been confirmed that a sequel to Luther: The Fallen Sun is in development.