Watch: War Lord Idris Elba Reigns Over Harrowing ‘Beasts of No Nation’ Teaser
Zack Sharf
While Cary Fukunaga broke out in the mainstream for his acclaimed, Emmy-winning direction of “True Detective” Season 1, indie cinephiles have been fans of his for quite some time, given the powerful vision on display in his two feature films, “Sin Nombre” and “Jane Eyre.” Fortunately, the success of HBO’s crime drama has given Fukunaga his biggest canvas yet in his new drama, “Beasts of No Nation,” which Netflix acquired in March in a headline-making $12 million deal.
“Luther” favorite Idris Elba stars as a ruthless war lord who takes in a young boy, Agu (newcomer Abraham Attah) and trains him to become a child solider. The film is based on the novel by Nigerian author Uzodinma Iweala, and if the grueling teaser trailer above is any indication, the drama should be a harrowing, eye-opening experience for domestic audiences.
The drama will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival and has also lined up a screening at TIFF, making it a potential awards player and one of the season’s most anticipated titles. Netflix will be releasing the film in 19 select markets served by Landmark Theaters beginning October 19, which is the same day it will become available to stream on the website.
Watch the teaser above.
