Idris Elba is set to hit the highway in the upcoming action-thriller “Hammer Down,” directed by former James Gunn assistant Simon Hatt, per digitalspy.com. The film marks Hatt’s directorial debut after serving as co-producer on Suicide Squad and executive producer on Guardians of the Galaxy.
The high-stakes thriller follows Mac (Elba), an elite long-haul trucker known for his “no questions asked” policy regarding cargo transport. The plot kicks into high gear when Mac brings his teenage daughter along for what should be a routine job. Their cross-country journey takes a dangerous turn as they find themselves pursued by ruthless criminals determined to seize their mysterious cargo, all while trying to stay one step ahead of law enforcement.
The project, based on Hatt’s original short film, will be produced under Elba’s 22 Summers banner alongside industry veteran Charles Roven’s Atlas Entertainment. Elba and Gina Carter will produce with Roven and Madison Weireter.
This announcement comes as Elba continues to diversify his portfolio, recently revealing his involvement in a BBC documentary examining the UK’s knife crime crisis. However, “Hammer Down” promises to return the Golden Globe winner and Luther star to the action-packed territory that has made him a household name, this time with a compelling father-daughter dynamic at its core.
Production details and release dates are yet to be announced.
Only last month it emerged that the actor was to portray Okonkwo, the protagonist in Chinua Achebe’s classic novel, Things Fall Apart, in a new TV series adaptation by American entertainment company, A24.
Elba, who will also produce the series, earned acclaim for his work in popular TV series like The Wire and Luther.
He also portrayed Nelson Mandela in the 2013 biographical film Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.
•Featured image: Idris Elba/Michael Buckner/Getty Images
