Idris Elba Reveals Why He ‘Didn’t Watch’ The Wire

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Idris Elba explained why he chose not to watch his groundbreaking HBO series, “The Wire,” where he played the memorable role of drug lord Russell “Stringer” Bell. Elba confessed that he feels a sense of guilt for not watching it, but considers himself as somewhat detached from the whole experience.

Idris Elba shares why he hasn’t watched The Wire

Idris Elba admits there’s something he needs to share: he’s never watched one of his most highly-regarded series, The Wire. In a chat with Amy Poehler on the Good Hang podcast, the actor opened up about his feelings for the groundbreaking HBO program that catapulted him to fame.

In all honesty,” Elba confessed, “I haven’t seen The Wire.” He expressed a sense of regret for not having watched it. He went on to say, “It’s not that I’m not a fan; in fact, I was part of its creation. The series was so intense, so authentic, and so significant, even though we didn’t fully understand its importance during production. I didn’t grasp the significance of the show while making it.

Martin Luther’s statement implies that he didn’t watch or enjoy the show as an admirer or spectator. Interestingly, it’s been said that former U.S. President Barack Obama named The Wire, starring Alba, as his preferred TV series.

When asked if Alba could watch the show immediately, the actor explained, “In a sense, it felt like I was taking on the role of Stringer Bell. I’m not actually Stringer Bell, but I feel as though a piece of myself disappeared with that character when it ended. It feels odd for me to rewatch it.

Earlier, David Simon, the creator of The Wire, shared with the Associated Press that actor Alba wasn’t pleased with the way his character perished in season 3. Simon explained that Alba was disgruntled because “many people were beginning to realize how talented a leading man he truly was.

In a conversation with AP, he expressed, “When he went through the script, it was almost unbelievable to him that he was leaving the show. He wasn’t exactly thrilled about it. I recall discussing the script with him and saying, ‘Idris, you’re destined for movie roles. You’ll become an A-lister. This death scene will serve as your introduction; people will appreciate this story arc in hindsight – it’s your ticket to success, buddy. Don’t worry, you’ll be just fine.'” (As reported by The Wrap)

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2025-07-02 14:41