Idris Elba to battle a lion in survival thriller Beast

If you've ever wanted to see Idris Elba take on a lion, you're in luck. THR has reported that the actor is slated to star in BEAST, a survival thriller that Baltasar Kormakur will direct for Universal Pictures. Plot details are being kept under wraps at this stage, but BEAST has been described as being in the same vein as THE SHALLOWS, which starred Blake Lively as a surfer being stalked by a shark. This time around, the predatory creature will be a lion.

Based on an original idea by Jaime Primak-Sullivan, BEAST has been scripted by Ryan Engle, who penned NON-STOP, THE COMMUTER, and RAMPAGE. Director Baltasar Kormakur certainly isn't a stranger to the survival thriller genre as he's previously helmed EVEREST and ADRIFT. As for Idris Elba, the actor recently starred in FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS AND SHAW, CATS, and CONCRETE COWBOY, the latter of which had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival earlier this month. You can check out a review of the film from our own Chris Bumbray right here. Elba is next slated to star in James Gunn's THE SUICIDE SQUAD as Robert DuBois/Bloodsport, a  convicted felon who is serving time in prison for shooting Superman with a bullet made of Kryptonite. THE SUICIDE SQUAD is slated for an August 6, 2021 release.