HBO has retained the services of "The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." HBO has ordered 13 episodes from the Weinstein Co.'s adaptation of the books by Alexander McCall Smith.

"Agency" centers on Precious Ramotswe (Jill Scott), the proprietor of the only female-owned detective agency in Botswana. Anika Noni Rose plays her quirky secretary, Mma Makutsi, and Lucian Msamati stars as Ramotswe's devoted suitor, JLB Matekoni. Also in the pilot are David Oyelowo, Idris Elba, Colin Salmon and John Kani. [SOURCE]

Labels: Anika Noni Rose, Idris Elba, Jill Scott

Beyonce will be heading back to the silver screen and this time, no music. Along with Idris Elba [yum] and Ali Larter, she will take on Obsessed, a thriller.

In "Obsessed," Elba will play an asset manager who has a knockout wife (Knowles) and thriving career until a temp office worker (Larter) begins stalking him.

The film is also being produced by Beyonce and her Paw. Filming is set to begin this summer. Beyonce is about to begin work on Cadillac, which she is also a producer and stars as Etta James. [SOURCE]


Fantasia tells MTV News that she is set to make her debut in the movie adaption of The Color Purple Musical.

“That’s going to happen and I’m going to do it,” the former “Idol” champ said, smiling broadly.

“We haven’t started yet because I’m going to work on my album. I think it’s fair that I committed myself, and promised that after I finish going on a tour, I’ll be ready to come back and commit myself to Miss Celie again,” Fantasia explained. “I miss my music”

So impressed with her command of the role, Oprah & Co. are going to wait for Fantasia to be ready before moving ahead with the movie to musical to movie musical adaptation, the singer beamed.

“They’re going to work with me. They don’t have to [but] that’s a favor,” Fantasia said. “Working with someone like Miss Oprah who’s so talented and amazing - It’s a blessing.” [SOURCE]

Labels: Beyonce, Fantasia, Idris Elba

Labels: Common, Denzel Washington, Diddy, Idris Elba, Jay Z

Labels: Idris Elba

When Russell "Stringer" Bell died on HBO's The Wire, it was as if somebody we all knew was tragically murdered. He was the suave, even-tempered businessman that just happened to run a highly successful drug operation, along with Avon Barksdale (played by Wood Harris). He was also arguably the show's most engaging character up until the climax of the third season.

Fortunately for the public, Idris Elba, who played Stringer, is alive and well. Since the demise of his character, his career has flourished. He's got several project that drop this year ranging from nefarious street characters (American Gangster), epidemic survivor (28 Weeks Later) and, even a doting father in Daddy's Little Girls.

Ever the Renaissance Man, Elba has also emerged as a DJ, MC and drops an EP this year. Big Man by East London is 'Dris. The Englishman is serious about his craft and his myspace page conveys his musical message with purist's frame of mind. The talented Mr. Elba speaks about his role, his music, and his career.

Also, Idris stars in HBO's Sometimes in April.

Synopsis: In April 1994, one of the most heinous genocides in world history began in the African nation of Rwanda. Over the course of 100 days, close to one million people were killed in a terrifying purge by Hutu nationalists against their Tutsi countrymen. This harrowing HBO Films drama focuses on the almost indescribable human atrocities that took place a decade ago through the story of two Hutu brothers - one in the military, one a radio personality - whose relationship and private lives were forever changed in the midst of the genocide. Written and directed by Raoul Peck (HBO Films' "Lumumba"), the movie is the first large-scale film about the 100 days of the 1994 Rwandan genocide to be shot in Rwanda, in the locations where the real-life events transpired.

Labels: Idris Elba