Actor, musician and filmmaker Idris Elba has signed a global multi-book deal with HarperCollins to publish a range of children’s books launching in 2022.
Publishing will include picture books and fiction featuring a character and world imagined and developed by Idris and his writing partner Robyn Charteris.
Charteris has written various live-action drama, pre-school and animation programmes for BBC, Channel 4, the Jim Henson Company and Endemol, including “The Hoobs” and “Thomas The Tank Engine.”
“I feel privileged to have the opportunity to bring stories inspired by my daughter to life with my incredible partner Robyn Charteris, and the powerhouse team at HarperCollins,” said the father-of-two.
President and Publisher HCCB US, Suzanne Murphy said, “Idris Elba is a creative force, who has many wonderful stories to tell. We are honored to be working with him and with Robyn Charteris to bring Idris’s rich and imaginative storytelling to the world of children’s books, and we are thrilled to welcome them to the HarperCollins family.”
Fans of Elba can look forward to seeing the British actor in James Gunn’s “The Suicide Squad,” where he will be playing Bloodsport.
Bloodsport is the name of Robert DuBois, a Vietnam draft dodger who had a mental breakdown and became obsessed with the Vietnam War after learning that his brother had gone in his place. Michael DuBois was sent to Vietnam, where he lost both his arms and legs. Robert then went insane from guilt, spending years in and out of psychiatric hospitals in Canada.
Elba joins a cast that includes Viola Davis, Storm Reid, John Cena, Margot Robbie, Peter Capaldi, Michael Rooker, Sean Gunn, Taika Waititi, Nathan Fillion, Joel Kinnaman, Alice Braga, Flula Borg, Jennifer Holland, Daniela Melchior, Juan Diego Botto, and more.
“The Suicide Squad” opens on Aug. 6, 2021.
