Idris Elba’s Hackney casting call was shut down by the police last night

Idris Elba put out a casting call yesterday for extras to appear in his new Hackney-set movie. It was an open call, the gig was paid and, unsurprisingly, Londoners turned out in their hundreds for a chance to appear alongside the ‘Luther’ actor. 

Whitmore Community Centre in Phillipp Street was inundated with potential extras who wanted to appear in the untitled movie, which is set in 1983 in Hackney’s Afro-Caribbean community and is directed by Elba. 

People over 18 had been urged to come down between 4pm and 9pm, but the event was cancelled after too many people turned up. 

Elba took to Instagram during the casting yesterday to thank those who had auditioned, and warn those still waiting to be seen that the event was likely to be shut down. 

‘The response for the open casting has been unbelievable. Thank you so much for sharing the info and for coming down,’ he said, adding: ‘Already I’m asked to shut it down because of the numbers. I don’t want to shut it down but it’s looking very likely. I’m just being honest with you guys.’

Thankfully, the star did suggest an alternative way Londoners can put themselves forward for a role. 

‘Send a headshot of yourself and a little bit of information to info@keycasting.co.uk and we will look at everyone for my film and others,’ he said. 

In other news, Sadiq has been Mayor for a whole year, there could be four new ‘Game of Thrones’ spin-offs and a man has travelled around the world on a Boris bike