Idris Elba can do it all. The 5th season of Luther just started on BBC One this week. He’s the villain in this summer’s Hobbs & Shaw. Not to mention a lead role in the upcoming film adaptation of Cats. To say he’s a busy man, is putting it mildly. The most interesting project he has coming in 2019? A Netflix comedy program, called Turn Up Charlie. Today, Deadline ran a report that not only revealed the release date of the show, but also got a glimpse of what it will look like.
The 8-episode series, which is set to drop on March 15, follows the exploits of struggling DJ and eternal bachelor, Charlie (Elba). He gets one last stab at success, when he agrees to be the “manny” for his famous best friend’s daughter (Frankie Hervey), who proves to be something of a problem child.
Now, normally a plot synopsis like that would give us pause. We’ve all suffered through some variation of this before, in the past. The Pacifier, The Game Plan and Mr. Nanny all immediately come to mind and fit that formula. Yet, Elba’s involvement (also as co-creator and executive producer) makes this more than a passing curiosity. If for some reason you don’t think he has the comedic chops you forget how effortlessly charming the man comes off. Plus, he did a stint on The Office. It also helps that he’s flanked by a talented cast that features Piper Perabo, JJ Field and Dustin Demri-Burns.
The other thing that boasts confidence, is the inclusion of Tristram Shapeero. Serving here as director and co-executive producer, Shapeero is one of the unsung heroes of television comedy. From Community to Parks and Rec, Brooklyn 99 to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and even Peep Show, his resume is the stuff of legends. In fact, there’s reason to believe he may be the secret ingredient that makes Turn Up Charlie one of the best comedies of 2019. Only time will tell.
What do you think, dear reader? Are you ready for a comedy series from Idris Elba? Do you check out every new Netflix property, in case it becomes a cultural phenomenon? Or is your Elba attention, this year, solely focused on Hobbs & Shaw? Let us know down in the comments. Turn Up Chalie premieres exclusively on Netflix, March 15. If you aren’t sold on the show yet, just glance at this photo below. We think it’ll convince anyone to tune in.
