Tea, Talent & The Crown: Idris Elba Teams Up with King Charles III for a New Netflix TV Series on British Youth.
- BFW Staff
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Black Film Wire Editors| June 2025
In a royal twist that even the tabloids didn’t see coming, Idris Elba is teaming up with King Charles III for a brand-new Netflix documentary celebrating the 50-year legacy of The King’s Trust.
The partnership was confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter — making it the first time a reigning British monarch has collaborated with Netflix, following in the wake of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Sussex-backed content.
Elba, himself a former Trust beneficiary, will host the yet-untitled film and act as executive producer through his company, 22 Summers. King Charles will appear in candid, filmed conversations. Together, they’ll spotlight inspirational young people from the UK and around the world whose lives have been changed thanks to scholarships, mentorship, and career development through the Trust.
🎥 A Story That’s Very Personal for Elba
Over fifty years ago, Charles founded The Prince’s Trust (now the King’s Trust) using his own Royal Navy severance pay. Idris Elba, then an aspiring actor in his teens, received a £1,500 grant that kickstarted his training — years before The Wire and Luther made him a household name.
“The King’s Trust gave me an opportunity that changed my life,” Elba shared. “At a time when I didn’t have the resources to pursue my ambitions… that helped me take those first steps.” He now focuses on replicating that support via his Elba Hope Foundation.
🌏 Global Impact Meets Royal Legacy
With over 1.3 million youths aided in more than 20 countries — including over 1 million across the UK — the Trust is more than legacy charity — it’s a global force for change. The documentary, slated to begin filming in late June and premiere in fall 2026, will explore how belief in young people can transform communities and cultures.
Netflix’s involvement places the project among the biggest Royal streaming partnerships since Harry and Meghan’s series in 2020. Yet here, the focus is distinctly uplifting: empowerment, mentorship, and a connection across class, race, and geography — all framed by a monarch and actor who are part of the same dramatic narrative.
A Cultural Moment with Royal Reach
Forget monarchy gossip — this film is Black British experience meeting palace purpose. When Elba and King Charles open up about their shared history — and film youth making their own — this becomes more than doc. This becomes cultural reclamation with royal production values. Leave the crown jewels in the vault; this is real treasure.
Coming soon to Netflix — fall 2026.
Stay tuned.
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