Idris Elba is making his directorial debut

He'll direct the cinematic adaptation of the literary sensation, Victor Headley's 1992 novel Yardie

Idris Elba is following in the footsteps of so many of his thespian compatriots, stepping behind the camera for his directorial debut.

ScreenDaily reports StudioCanal UK will produce Elba's Yardie, an adaptation of Victor Headley's 1992 novel about the rise of a young Jamaican from London's streets to the top of its drug-dealing scene; a book which became somewhat of a literary sensation after it sold 12,000 copies solely on word of mouth, distributed in clothing shops, hairdressers, and outside of nightclubs.

Discussions are currently underway with Universal Music about the rights to Island Records' catalogue; proving that Elba is keen to faithfully recreate the culture of 1980s Notting Hill.

The actor certainly boasts the kind of experience perfect for this project; from his regular role on narcotics drama The Wire, to his past work directing two episodes of Sky Arts' Playhouse Presents and music videos such as Mumford & Sons' "Lover of the Light".

He'll have to fit Yardie into what's already a fairly busy slate of acting projects; he's currently filming the big screen adaptation of Stephen King's The Dark Tower, on top of returning as Heimdall in Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok.

Elba can next be seen on our screens in Star Trek Beyond, where he features as the film's latest villain Krall. The film hits UK cinemas 22 July.