Idris Elba to produce and narrate WW2 documentary

Hollywood star Idris Elba wants to highlight the unsung heroes of WW2 (World War 2) in his new National Geographic documentary series. The project, which will be produced by October Film and the actor's Green Door Pictures, will cover unsung heroes of colour at Dunkirk, Pearl Harbor and D-Day during the Second World War, and the 51-year-old star is looking forward to shining a spotlight on their stories.

Speaking to a media source, Elba, whose grandfather fought in the War, told how he was pitched the documentary when October showed him a photo of soldiers from the war and asked "What do you think is missing from these pictures?" The Luther actor replied, "The answer of course was people of colour and I realised I didn’t know any stories about them from World War Two. So this felt like a genuinely fresh and original way into a perennial subject." 

Each episode of the programme will focus on three specific people via premium dramatisation, character portraits and archive material. Elba will also highlight how their experiences of war directly influenced the post-war movements for freedom and equality for people of colour all over the globe. 

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Previously, the Molly's Game actor had worked with National Geographic for 2013's King of Speed, which showed the history of underground racing, and how the need for speed impacted the modern motorsport world. 

Meanwhile, Elba recently revealed he has been in therapy for a year because of his obsession with work. “In my therapy, I’ve been thinking a lot about changing, almost to the point of neuropaths being changed and shifting. It’s not because I don't like myself or anything like that, it’s just because I have some unhealthy habits that have really formed. And I work in an industry that I’m rewarded for those unhealthy habits, I’m rewarded for that,” he revealed in a podcast.

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Elba once found himself working for 10 days straight on a film set and spent his downtime relaxing in his music studio instead of being with his family. He added, “Whether it’s to be selfish, or (because) I’m a workaholic. I’m an absolute workaholic, and that isn’t great for life generally.