GOLDEN GLOBE winner Idris Elba is returning to the small screen, this time as radical black activist in new Sky drama Guerilla.
The six-part series will see Elba team up with writer and director John Ridley – who won an Oscar for best-adapted screenplay for 12 Years A Slave.
Elba will also be an executive producer on the show.
The story follows a young couple whose relationship is tested when they form a radical underground cell in 1970s London with the aim of bringing down the Black Power Desk, a true-life, secretive counter-intelligence unit within Special Branch dedicated to crushing all forms of black activism.
HUMBLED: John Ridley
Elba said of the role: “It’s been a long time desire of mine to collaborate with Mr. Ridley and his work here is nothing short of a masterclass in character-building and storytelling. TV is in for a treat.”
Ridley added: “I am both humbled by and impressed with Idris’ passion towards bringing this story to life. I share his commitment for populating the culture with driven and complicated people of color.”
Ridley will also executive produce and direct the first two episodes of the series for which production is set for late summer 2016 in London.
Sky’s head of drama, Anne Mensah, said: “Rarely does a project pitch the personal and the political in such a flawless combination. Guerrilla presents characters you will fall in love with but also a world and a part of black British history that is rarely tackled in such a bold and compelling manner.”
Guerrilla is part of Sky’s commitment to offer customers brand new original drama all year round.
