Netflix has acquired and is set to release Idris Elba’s urban cowboy tale – Concrete Cowboy – in 2021. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and was picked up by the streamer shortly after. Alongside Elba, the film stars Stranger Things’ Caleb McLaughlin.
Based on a screenplay by Ricky Staub (also the films director) and Dan Walser, is based on the 2009 novel Ghetto Cowboy by Greg Neri. Concrete Cowboy tells the story of Cole (McLaughlin), a 15 year-old who has just discovered the world of urban horseback riding when his mother sends him to live with his estranged father, Harp (Elba) in North Philadelphia. The story is based on the real-life black horsemen in the Philadelphia area, more specifically known as the Fletcher Street stables. Also starring in the film are Jharell Jerome, Lorraine Toussaint, Byron Bowers, and Clifford “Method Man” Smith. Philadelphia’s own Lee Daniels is producing the film with Elba.
Philadelphia’s Fletcher Street Stables holds a century’s worth of black horsemanship. The stables soon evolved with the times and has served as a sort of mentorship program to steer young people from life on the streets and drugs since. However, due to gentrification and other urban misfortunes, the stables are in jeopardy of closing. With this film, Elba hopes to shed light on Urban Cowboys and their importance to the community.
Idris Elba has a long list of work that includes; The Wire, Thor, Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, and the Netflix film Beasts of No Nation. In addition to Concrete Cowboy, Elba can be seen in the upcoming Suicide Squad set for release in August 2021.
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