Idris Elba Admits to Never Watching The Wire

Idris Elba Admits to Never Having Watched His 95% Rotten Tomatoes Crime Series

The Wire, with a 95% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, is hailed as one of the greatest crime drama series ever, using dramatized situations to address real-life issues. Idris Elba admits to never actually watching this critically acclaimed show that he starred in, despite its success in changing television narratives. The casting team avoided big names, giving stars like Idris Elba, Dominic West, and Lance Reddick their start. Elba, who played Stringer Bell, admitted to never watching the show despite its success.

During a recent appearance on Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast, the Luther star admits to never viewing this significant piece of his career on screen.

“If I’m really honest, I didn’t watch The Wire. I didn’t watch it. And I feel bad. It’s not that I’m not a fan of it — I was there. I made a show that was, you know, so intense and so real, so important, even though we didn’t realize it. I didn’t realize the importance of the show while making it. I didn’t participate in its celebration as a viewer, as a fan. And so I feel a little bit outside of the club. It’s more that I feel the presence of it all, my life since The Wire… In terms of its impact. So to me, it was almost a bit like I was Stringer Bell. I’m not Stringer Bell, but I also feel like when Stringer Bell died, there was a part of me that died with that character. It’s weird for me to go back and watch it.”

The series, now streaming on HBO Max, has been a cornerstone of crime dramas, with its compelling storytelling.

Source: https://collider.com/the-wire-idris-elba-has-never-watched-explained/