Idris Elba says he has never watched ‘The Wire’ and never will

LarkEntertainment2025-07-04104912
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Idris Elba has revealed that he’s never watched “The Wire” and he never will.

The hunky actor and sought-after DJ confessed that he hasn’t seen a single episode of the HBO hit that made him a household name, in which he played debonair yet dastardly drug dealer Stringer Bell.

“If I’m really honest, I didn’t watch ‘The Wire,’” he shared on this week’s episode of the “Good Hang with Amy Poehler” podcast. “I didn’t watch it. And I feel bad. It’s not that I’m not a fan of it — I was there.”

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The London native made a career breakout on the David Simon-created drama, hailed as one of the best shows in television history. He appeared in the first three seasons of the series, which also propelled the careers of Michael K. Williams, Andre Royo, Dominic West, Sonja Sohn, Tristan “Mack” Wilds, Wood Harris and Tony Award-winner Wendell Pierce.

Despite understanding now “the importance of the show,” Elba admits that he’s never “participate[d] in its celebration as a viewer, as a fan” so he feels “a little bit outside of the club.”

And while he does “feel proud” of his time on “The Wire,” the Golden Globe and SAG Award winner has no desire to ever watch his work.

“It [would be] weird for me to go back and watch it,” Elba told Poehler. “I don’t like being overly conscious about what my performance is like, because it makes me conscious about doing it. I like being in it rather than watching it.”

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Still, Elba acknowledges the lasting effect the show has had and continues to have on viewers, even 20 years later.

“At least once a day, someone says, ‘Bro, Stringer Bell, The Wire,’ … It really does, it surprises me how much impact that show had,” he said. “In a good way, it surprises me continuously that, you know, multi-generationally, it’s still being talked [about by] people that weren’t even born then.”

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Jair

The revelation from Idris Elba that he hasn't watched 'The Wire,' and has no plans to do so, is a surprising indication of personal preferences in the complex world filled with cultural masterpieces.

2025-07-11 08:13:15 reply
Calvin

An openly stated disdain for one of the greatest TV series in history, however informed Idris Elba's choice may be elsewhere—a poignant reminder that art is subjective and personal preferences still matter.

2025-07-11 08:13:45 reply
Ameer

The remarks by Idris Elba that he's never watched ' The Wire,' nor will do so, are surprising given the iconic status of this critically acclaimed show.

2025-07-11 18:38:53 reply
Leandro

It's surprising to hear an actor of Idris Elba’d. Chronicles. #HeyYouFoolsNoFilter."

2025-07-11 18:39:08 reply
Roland

Idris Elba's statement that he has never watched 'The Wire': A posthumous request or a truth debated by critics; either way, it feels like missing out on one of the greatest expressions of TV excellence.

2025-07-12 06:48:55 reply
Whitney

Actor Idris Elba's candid admission of not watching the influential series 'The Wire,' claiming that he doesn’t plan to, sparks debate on it being an essential view for film critics or simply a subjective choice.

2025-07-12 17:33:49 reply
Annalise

Breaking character: Idris Elba's open admission of non-viewership for such a groundbreaking show like 'The Wire,' challenging conventional beliefs in the value system that privileges iconic HBO dramas.

2025-07-16 21:09:24 reply
Joziah

Ignoring The Wire would be akin to missing out on a cinematic masterpiece for many, just as Elba displays only partial appreciation of the show's vast impact and brilliance in acting.

2025-07-16 21:09:35 reply
Mackenzie

Idris Elba's claim of not having watched 'The Wire', nor planning to, is a conspicuous oversight from one known for his love and appreciation in the film industry.

2025-07-17 06:30:37 reply
Sterling

Actor Idris Elba's recent statement that he has not yet watched and possibly nevers will 'The Wire,' a seminal television show, is surprising to many considering its critical acclaim across the board. (直言并引述明星伊德瑞斯·艾尔巴语录的英文评论)

2025-07-18 05:33:41 reply
Easton

It comes as a surprise to many that Idris Elba, an actor revered for his extensive viewing habits and cinema knowledge reportedly records at 201 films annually. By self-confessing never having watched 'The Wire', he posits himself in the minority of dedicated television enthusiasts.

2025-07-23 20:05:05 reply
Mira

While Idris Elba's decision not to watch 'The Wire', considered by many as a masterpiece in the crime drama genre, is intriguing and personal for him alone; his statement offers food-for thought on individual tastes versus critic consensus.

2025-07-23 20:05:21 reply

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