Discovery orders The Idris Elba Project

Discovery Networks UK has ordered The Idris Elba Project (WT), a four-part series in which the actor will race vehicles on land, water and in the air.

The series will be made by Shine North and Green Door Pictures, the prodco owned by Elba, star of detective series Luther (pictured).

Shine North parent Shine Group and Green Door have a development deal for factual shows.

In the show, the star will immerse himself in rally driving, street racing, aerobatics and power boating and look at the science and engineering behind each discipline.

The show will debut on Discovery in the UK and then go out on Discovery Channel in the US and the various international Discovery channels.

Elba said: “I’m taking on the toughest racing challenges of my life for this new Discovery TV series. The extreme challenges will take me right out of my comfort zone as I compete against the best on land, water and in the air.”

Elizabeth McIntyre, vice president, production & development factual, Discovery Networks International, commissioned the series.