Idris Elba is Training To Become a Professional Fighter For Discovery TV Series
Actor/producer/DJ/all-around-badass Idris Elba is about to add one more line of badassery to his resume.
Deadline reports that Elba is gearing up to star in a new show for Discovery called Idris Elba: Fighter, in which he will "undertake the physically and mentally demanding task of training to become a professional kickboxer — ultimately competing against a seasoned brawler in a no-holds-barred bout."
During training, Elba discovers what it really takes to be a professional fighter and will push himself to the limit to overcome pain and fear, master specialized techniques and skills, and ensure both his body and mind are fit. He will receive mentoring from former world champions, trainers and coaches, and travel the world to incorporate unorthodox training methods and regimens to increase his chances for the main event.
Awesome. Most actors wouldn't dare do anything like that in fear of hurting themselves or jacking up their faces so they might not be able to work immediately afterwards; Elba apparently doesn't give a crap about that. He's wanted to do this for a long time, so he's freakin' doing it.
“It has been a lifelong ambition of mine to fight professionally. Entering the ring to further test myself as a human being is a challenge I have been looking to take on for quite some time.”
This is going to be a three hour long docuseries that's shot on location in the UK, Thailand, Japan, Cuba, and South Africa. The show will air early in 2017 in both the UK and the United States, and even though I don't regularly watch Discovery, this seems like something worth tuning in for.