Idris Elba is set to star in an upcoming action thriller titled Hammer Down, directed by Simon Hatt. Hatt previously worked as an assistant to James Gunn and is known for co-producing the likes of DC’s The Suicide Squad and executive producing Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and the Peacemaker series. The veteran producer Charles Roven, who recently won his first Oscar for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer and produced The Dark Knight, will produce Hammer Down, which was adapted from a short helmed by Hatt back in 2020.
You can check out the synopsis for Hammer Down below, which finds Elba’s character on the run from merciless killers, criminals, and the cops while taking his teenage daughter across the country.
“Mac (Idris Elba) is the best at what he does, driving a big rig truck across the country with a “no questions asked” policy about the goods he transports. When he takes his tenacious teenage daughter along for a job, they are tracked and attacked by a relentless group of criminals that will stop at nothing to secure the consignment he has been entrusted to deliver. Pursued by merciless killers and with the police hot on their trail, Mac and his daughter must work together to prevent the cargo falling into dangerous hands and survive to live another day.”
The father-daughter road trip turned “run for your life” car chase premise sounds thrilling, and will no doubt lead to some awkward moments between father and daughter. Elba is now an action movie legend, and a longtime favorite for one of the most iconic roles in the genre: James Bond. Fans can no doubt expect some killer fight choreography and explosive action sequences. At the same time, Elba is known to really own the comedy in a character and so the father-daughter duo may offer some opportunity for his comedic chops to shine. Elba is producing along with Charles Roven (Oppenheimer and The Dark Knight trilogy), Madison Weireter (Justice League), and Gina Carter (See How They Run).
What Else Does Idris Elba Have in the Pipeline?
Most recently, the actor reprized his role as Knuckles from 2022’s Sonic’s the Hedgehog 2, voicing the character for the Paramount plus spinoff show Knuckles. Elba is also set to voice Knuckles in the sequel film Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which hits theaters this December. The sequel sees Sonic, Knuckles, and Tails team up as they take on a mysterious new enemy “with powers unlike anything they’ve faced before,” Shadow, voiced by John Wick star Keanu Reeves.
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Elba has also been working on the second season of his Apple TV+ show, Hijack, which is expected to air in 2025. The first season centers around a hijacked plane and a business negotiator, Sam Nelson (Elba), as he attempts to survive the ordeal and save the lives of his fellow passengers. Season 1 of the high-stakes thriller scored an 88% critics score but just a 50% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, reception was positive enough that the streamer has announced a second season. In the series press announcement, Elba teased the season, keeping plot details under wraps and promising a lot of action.
“It’s top secret what new situation unfolds for Sam Nelson, but I can assure you we will bring the high octane back!”
