Idris Elba is a DJ (he is what he plays), both in real-life AND on Netflix in the upcoming comedy series, Turn Up Charlie.
The man wears multiple occupational hats, both as an extremely-busy actor of film, stage and television, but also as a dabbler in soul/hip-hop music and as a DJ, for which he operates under the name ‘DJ Big Driis’ (yes, with two i’s). Now, a synthesis of those two occupations is on the horizon with this Netflix series.
Turn Up Charlie will manifest on Netflix with an inaugural season consisting of eight half-hour episodes. Elba will star as Charlie, a struggling DJ who is apparently close to procuring the gig that will finally yield him success. However, that prospect could become derailed, since he reluctantly becomes a ‘manny’ (male nanny) to the 11-year-old problem child daughter of his famous best friend. Thus, the bachelor DJ will find himself spun by the impromptu gig of parenthood.
Netflix has released some first images from the series, which you can check out in our gallery above. The streaming service has also dropped a release date for the show – 15th March.
Piper Perabo (Covert Affairs, Coyote Ugly) stars alongside Elba as Sara, “a superstar DJ, feminist icon and vivacious trendsetter who has chosen to abandon the chaotic and exciting life she lived in America, to put roots down in London in an attempt to give her badly behaved daughter more stability and normality.”
Newcomer Frankie Hervey will be said daughter, Gabrielle, who is “wise beyond her years,” and neglected by her workaholic parents. “Her spiky retorts, mischievous adventures and epic tantrums hide a lonely young girl with a distorted view of reality.”
JJ Field (Turn) was cast as Hollywood actor David, “a North London boy done good, David is ambitious and hardworking, but his return to his hometown brings new opportunities and uncertainties in equal measure.”
The series, based in the UK, is the brainchild of an executive producer triumvirate that includes star Idris Elba, along with Gary Reich – known from shows such as Vicious and How Not To Live Your Life, rounded out by Tristram Shapeero, a director of the Netflix hit series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, who’s also directed episodes of comedies Brooklyn Nine-Nine, GLOW, Blunt Talk, Community, Parks And Recreation, New Girl and Workaholics.
Turn Up Charlie release date
Turn Up Charlie will be available to stream from 15th March.
