Idris Elba's career has been building and expanding in various directions, with him adding producing and directing to his CV. He'll pull producing/co-starring duty on a new film, as he's on board Ghetto Cowboy.
Ricky Staub is making his directorial debut with the film, adapting Greg Neri's award-winning novel alongside Dan Walser. The story will follow 15-year-old Cole, who is forced to live with his estranged father, Harp (Elba) in poverty-stricken North Philadelphia. Despite the conditions, he discovers the redemptive world of urban horseback riding. "This story was built out of a deep friendship and collaboration with the riders of North Philly, and I couldn’t be more excited to honor their legacy with this film,” Staub tells Variety.
Elba also seems happy to be involved: "Ricky and Dan’s brilliant script combines the energy and grit of an urban movie with the poetry and romance of the urban cowboy way of life." He's about to kick off work on Fast & Furious spin-off Hobbs And Shaw, playing the villain, while his own directorial debut, Yardie hits UK cinemas at the end of this month.
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