Idris Elba, 53, shared his aspirations to transition from acting to directing during the Red Sea International Film Festival in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Emmy-nominated actor and filmmaker screened his latest short film, Dust To Dreams, and spoke about his plans for the future behind the camera.
Elba Discusses His Directorial Ambitions
At a Q&A for Dust To Dreams, Elba told the audience he hopes to “eventually” stop acting in order to focus fully on directing:
“I’m hoping that my fan base as an actor isn’t mad at me,” he joked. “Eventually I want to transfer to be a director fully.”
Having acted in over 130 projects, Elba explained why directing appeals to him:
“I love acting still, but I think directing allows me to flex slightly different muscles and just be a part of the set in a different way. I really enjoy it.”
Upcoming Directorial Project: This Is How It Goes
Elba also spoke about his next directorial feature, This Is How It Goes, an Apple Studios adaptation of a 2005 Neil LaBute play. The film explores marriage, trust, and race, following Elba’s creative decision to transpose the story’s original characters:
“The original is about a Black man married to a white woman, and a white man comes to move into their house. I bought the rights and transposed the story—so it’s a white man married to a Black woman, and a Black man comes to live in their house. It’s an incredible examination of marriage, trust, and race.”
The production was filmed in Ghana and “just finished last week,” according to Elba.
Acting Projects Still on the Horizon
Although Elba is shifting focus, he confirmed he will return as Detective John Luther in a new Luther film, his first since Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023). Filming starts in February 2026.
He also addressed rumors about playing James Bond, denying the reports while maintaining his interest in diverse roles.
Elba’s Perspective on Acting
Elba has previously described acting as a privilege rather than work. On Amy Poehler’s podcast, Good Hang, he reflected:
“So when I get an opportunity to come work with you, to come work on a set, it doesn’t feel like work. Now everyone else is like, ‘You’re working really hard,’ but it’s not that hard.”
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