Skip to main content
  • TotalFilm
  • Edge
  • Newsarama
  • Retrogamer
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Trending
  • Best Netflix Movies
  • Movie Release Dates
  • Best movies on Disney Plus
  • Best Netflix Shows
Don't miss these
Alan Ritchson as 81 in War Machine
Sci-Fi Movies Alan Ritchson says Reacher was the most physically demanding role he'd ever played before signing on to War Machine
Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes during the new show, Young Sherlock.
Streaming Services 6 new movies and shows to watch this weekend on Netflix, Prime, Disney Plus, and more (March 6-8)
Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man
Crime Movies Cillian Murphy says Netflix's Peaky Blinders movie is the "natural conclusion" for Tommy Shelby
Peaky Blinders – one of the best Netflix shows
Drama Shows The Peaky Blinders spin-off show has started filming, with leaked set pictures ushering the franchise into a new era
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again season 2
Marvel TV Shows New Daredevil: Born Again season 2 TV spot is packed full of new footage, including another look at villain Bullseye
Alan Ritchson as 81 in War Machine
Sci-Fi Movies War Machine director says practical FX was "paramount" to make the sci-fi action movie feel as real as possible
(L to R) Steven Yeun as Detective Mike Ro, Matt Damon as Lieutenant Dane Dumars, Ben Affleck as Detective Sergeant J.D. Byrne, and Kyle Chandler as DEA Agent Mateo 'Matty' Nix in The Rip.
Action Movies The 25 best Netflix action movies to watch right now
Alan Ritchson in War Machine
Sci-Fi Movies War Machine star Alan Ritchson says the film's most dangerous stunt was "pretty terrifying," as he ziplined over rapids
Idris Elba as Sam Nelson in Hijack season 2.
Thriller Shows After a plane and a train, Hijack showrunner jokes season 3 could be "on a boat", "on an e-bike", or even "a submarine"
Alan Ritchson in Reacher season 3
Action Shows Reacher star Alan Ritchson says season 4 is coming this year: "It's by far the best season we've had yet"
Arnold Schwarzenegger in Predator
Action Movies Arnold Schwarzenegger says he'll be in the next Predator movie and a Conan the Barbarian sequel
Will Smith as Dr. Robert Neville in I Am Legend
Action Movies I Am Legend 2 release date speculation, cast, plot, trailer, and everything we know about the upcoming horror sequel
Nicolas Cage as Ben Reilly in Spider-Noir
Superhero Shows Nicolas Cage wanted to play his 1930s superhero detective in Spider-Noir like a "spider pretending to be a person"
A screenshot from Young Sherlock showing two characters looking into the camera on a street
Streaming Services How to watch Young Sherlock, the irreverent remix reviewers are raving about
The giant robot villain of Netflix's War Machine charging up an energy blast
Sci-Fi Movies The first trailer for Netflix's War Machine channels Predator vibes as Reacher star takes on an unstoppable killer robot
  1. Entertainment
  2. TV

Idris Elba is training to become a professional kickboxer for new docu-series

News
By Amon Warmann published 24 August 2016

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Get the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
Subscribe to our newsletter

We've been watching Idris Elba kick ass on screens big and small in both animated and live action films for years, but next year we'll see him kick ass in an all new arena. According to Deadline, the actor-musician will be stepping into the ring for Idris Elba: Fighter, a three-part series which will see Elba train to become a professional kickboxer. Yup, you read that right. Here's a quote from the man himself: 

"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".

As Elba's latest Instagram snap indicates, he's already putting in the gym hours for the series...

You may like
  • Potential new James Bond Idris Elba wearing a suit. That is all. Idris Elba plans to retire from acting and become a full-time director
  • Alan Ritchson as 81 in War Machine Alan Ritchson says Reacher was the most physically demanding role he'd ever played before signing on to War Machine
  • The giant robot villain of Netflix's War Machine charging up an energy blast The first trailer for Netflix's War Machine channels Predator vibes as Reacher star takes on an unstoppable killer robot

Cutting weight, two days before first fight, mind in the right place. Fear NO guy.

A photo posted by @7dub on Aug 22, 2016 at 1:22am PDT

At first glance this sounded a little crazy, but the more I think about it the more I find myself very excited to see Elba kick people in the head. Will you be watching?

Idris Elba: Fighter will debut in early 2017.

Images: Columbia Pictures/Idris Elba

Sign up for the Total Film Newsletter

Bringing all the latest movie news, features, and reviews to your inbox

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
Amon Warmann
Amon Warmann
Social Links Navigation

Amon is a contributing editor and columnist for Empire magazine, but is also a Film and TV writer for GamesRadar+, Total Film, and others. He has also written for NME, Composer Mag, and more, along with being a film critic for TalkSport. He is also the co-host of the Fade to Black Podcast, and a video mashup creator. Can also do a pretty good Bane impersonation.

Read more
Potential new James Bond Idris Elba wearing a suit. That is all.
Idris Elba plans to retire from acting and become a full-time director
 
 
Alan Ritchson as 81 in War Machine
Alan Ritchson says Reacher was the most physically demanding role he'd ever played before signing on to War Machine
 
 
The giant robot villain of Netflix's War Machine charging up an energy blast
The first trailer for Netflix's War Machine channels Predator vibes as Reacher star takes on an unstoppable killer robot
 
 
Sylvester Stallone as John Rambo in First Blood (1982)
Upcoming Rambo origin movie starring Street Fighter actor will begin filming this week
 
 
Henry Cavill
Henry Cavill looks battle-worn in long-awaited first look at John Wick creator's Highlander reboot
 
 
Taron Egerton in Apex
Taron Egerton plays a serial killer hunting Charlize Theron in the first trailer for Netflix's upcoming thriller Apex
 
 
Latest in TV
Yuta getting ready to attack in Jujutsu Kaisen season 3
Jujutsu Kaisen actor offers perfect response to why AI should stay out of anime
 
 
Mackenyu as Zoro in One Piece season 2
One Piece season 2 actor Mackenyu says he learned Roronoa Zoro's 15-minute 1 vs 100 fight in just 6 hours
 
 
How to watch Neon Genesis Evangelion in order
Evangelion studio leaks its own 30th anniversary short after "insufficient understanding of X’s takedown request system"
 
 
A close-up of Luffy holding his fist during the anime One Piece.
As One Piece season 2 hits Netflix, you can now catch up on 13 seasons of the original anime for free
 
 
Alan Ritchson in Reacher season 3
Reacher star Alan Ritchson says season 4 is coming this year: "It's by far the best season we've had yet"
 
 
Spider-Noir aiming his webshooter
Spider-Noir is the "same character, different version": "It's not a continuation of Into The Spider-Verse"
 
 
Latest in News
Atsu looks out across the surroundings of Mount Yotei in Ghost of Yotei
Ghost of Yotei almost had Breath of the Wild's rock climbing, but found it's not "a core aspect of being a ronin"
 
 
A hand poses Lego Luigi's head
Lego Luigi kit lets you recreate the iconic Mario Kart death stare
 
 
Pickmon
Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon "stole one of my designs"
 
 
Life is Strange
Join Chloe and Max on a "fiery weekend" for a better glimpse into Life is Strange: Reunion at the Future Games Show this week
 
 
Mortal Kombat movie
Mortal Kombat 2 star joins in with Street Fighter movie beef after Game Awards dig because he "loves a good rivalry"
 
 
Fujino and Kyomoto eating in Look Back
Live-action adaptation of Chainsaw Man creator's Look Back will escape Japanese cinemas and come to the west
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Virtual Boy for Switch 2 sitting on coffee table with TV in backdrop displaying Wario Land gameplay.
    1
    I respect the Virtual Boy as a collectable Switch 2 gadget, but it’s not exactly a retro console remake
  2. 2
    Bizarre Lineage codes (March 2026) for free Stat Point Essence, Rare Chests, and more
  3. 3
    The Thrustmaster T248R is making me question where a sim racing wheel with no direct drive and no modular wheelbase fits in the market in 2026
  4. 4
    These Mario Day-inspired Switch 2 accessories will power up your console more than a super star
  5. 5
    Pokemon fan artist alleges new Palworld clone Pickmon "stole one of my designs," saying "they didn't even try to change something and make it a bit less obvious"

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...