Idris Elba has reportedly been offered £5 million to join Apple TV+.
The 47-year-old actor has been offered the eye-watering sum of money to make TV shows and films for Apple, which is desperate to fight off competition from Netflix.
A source told the Sunday Mirror newspaper: “Landing a heavyweight multi-talent like Idris who is not just an actor, but a producer, director, and musician is a coup for Apple.
“He’s universally liked, extremely talented, versatile, and will bring in the viewers globally. For both parties, it’s a win-win situation.”
The lucrative offer is being led by Jay Hunt, who commissioned ‘Luther’ while at the BBC and he’s subsequently become Apple’s European content chief.
READ: Brit actor Idris Elba to produce for Apple TV+
Meanwhile, Idris recently revealed he doesn’t agree with censoring or deleting old TV shows.
The London-born actor questioned the decision to remove programs from streaming platforms and TV channels because he believes viewers should “should know that people made shows like this”.
He said: “To mock the truth, you have to know the truth. But to censor racist themes within a show, to pull it … I think viewers should know that people made shows like this. Commissioners and archive-holders pulling things they think are exceptionally tone-deaf at this time – fair enough and good for you.
“But I think, moving forward, people should know that freedom of speech is accepted, but the audience should know what they’re getting into.”
As well as suggesting content warnings before offending episodes, Idris – who didn’t refer to a specific show – called for artists to be allowed the freedom to create.
He explained: “I don’t believe in censorship. I believe that we should be allowed to say what we want to say. Because, after all, we’re story-makers.”
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