Idris Elba (London, 1972) is a mutant being who exceeds his actor persona. Before The Wire propelled him to a progressive stardom filled with commercial films, action, and superheroes, this British actor, son of Sierra Leone and Ghana migrants, used to DJ in nightclubs to pay for his studies and make ends meet until he could find a job to sustain himself.
Today, the British actor is one of the main faces of mainstream cinema, and at the same time, nightlife and electronic music are still part of his life. Once again, the mutant. Because Idris Elba has upcoming DJ gigs in his home country this summer and now lands on Prime Video with his latest film, Heads of State. An action comedy where he becomes the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom -John Cena accompanies him as a TikTok president of the United States- with the goal of saving the world. Of course, after a million explosions on planes, official cars, government buildings...; fights with a foreign criminal organization trying to eliminate the two political figures; a romance with an MI6 agent -played by Priyanka Chopra Jonas- interrupted by their hectic lives, and many other implausible escapes across various European countries.
"You know guys, from now on you can address me as Prime Minister," the actor starts in an online meeting with international media, showcasing his British dry humor that is enhanced by his London accent. "Obviously, this movie has parallels with real life, we all think about who could potentially govern us and who couldn't. But ultimately, this is a story of humans in incredible situations designed to entertain," Elba dodges the first attempt to discuss global politics.
However, the actor is not disconnected from politics in his country. Elba met with the current British Prime Minister, Keith Starmer, and families of victims of knife attacks at Downing Street last September. During that meeting, the actor presented a project to curb the online purchase of knives, machetes, and all kinds of bladed weapons. Even this month of March, the newspaper The Sun reported that his name was among those considered by the Labour Party to replace Sadiq Khan in the race for the London mayoralty in the 2028 elections.
"Humans need guidance, and that comes in the form of government. Just because you're an actor doesn't mean you're not qualified to govern a country or guide the population," the British actor asserts when asked about actors holding political positions. "I love that idea. I've seen footballers and comedians become heads of state, and I'm in favor. If you lead with integrity and common sense, you can guide your country," Elba emphasizes. However, he dismisses the idea of a candidate like his co-star John Cena, obsessed with social media, public image, and disregarding basic principles of institutional politics, being the optimal choice. "I don't feel he would be the best candidate. But ultimately, I would vote for John. There's no doubt he would be great," he points out.
Even though the relationship between the leaders Sam Clarke and Will Derringer is tense in fiction, the actors portraying them have had a smooth collaboration in real life. "Working with John was a lot of fun; he's a true professional who helps you be funny because he's naturally funny," Elba states, mentioning Cena's assistance in action scenes. John Cena has been involved in wrestling for 27 years, 24 of them in WWE where he holds the record for the most world titles in the company's history. "Seeing myself fighting against seven guys was a challenge, but John has a fantastic natural memory for fight choreography. We would learn the fight on Monday and shoot on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. We would learn another fight on Thursday and shoot on Friday and Saturday. When you see someone like him doing it, with his experience, it makes everyone step up their game."
Action movies are not unfamiliar to Idris Elba either. In recent years, he has been among the leads in Suicide Squad, Beast, or the second installment of Tyler Rake. A significant part of his career has been marked by projects linked to the action genre. "This project was like getting a beating," details the actor. And continues: "When we talk about large-scale action, like in this movie, it can make people anxious. But here you can laugh. The characters are funny, they encounter funny situations. And that's always a good mix."
Although at first, it may be hard to imagine his character identifying with fun. Sam Clarke is a Prime Minister solely focused on politics and righteousness as his method of action. Until he finds himself in a presidential plane explosion, several other blasts, and even a gun assault on the United Nations headquarters. And the question arises: Where did the preparation for this British Prime Minister with a vigilante soul come from? "I've been fortunate to be in a room with several heads of state due to my philanthropic work. And I've noticed some behavioral patterns. I like to observe some of the things they have to pay attention to, how they move, how they speak, how they communicate. I've taken some of those experiences and poured them into my preparation."