DJ Idris Elba Plays to His Strengths in Turn Up Charlie Trailer

Netflix has released the trailer for Idris Elba’s forthcoming comedy Turn Up Charlie. The eight-episode series stars Elba as Charlie, a struggling DJ. Of course, Elba himself performs as DJ Big Driis (he’s even appearing at Coachella 2019), so it’s a bit like if Bruce Willis had made a movie about being an R&B artist.

In Turn Up Charlie, the down-on-his-luck DJ begrudgingly becomes a nanny for his famous best friend’s precocious daughter Gabby (Frankie Hervey). Gabby’s mother (Piper Perabo), herself a successful emcee, may just hold Charlie’s shot at redemption. The trailer even promises a possible romantic subplot for the two (they’re both incredibly attractive, so why not?).

Elba’s charm makes Charlie’s unoriginal man-child persona more palatable than most, at least in the just-over-two-minute clip. It remains to be seen whether Hervey’s Gabby, at one point threateningly brandishing a vibrator, will be one of those annoyingly too-wise kids or a genuine spot of comic relief in the series.

Co-creators Elba and Gary Reich serve as executive producers with Tristram Shapeero, who’s also directing the series with Matt Lipsey. Shapeero’s got an eye for directing off-the-wall TV comedies, with credits like GLOW, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Good Place to his name. Martin Joyce and Ana Garanito are taking up co-executive producing duties. Turn Up Charlie is co-produced by Reich’s Brown Eyed Boy Productions and Elba’s Green Door Pictures.

Watch the trailer below ahead of Turn Up Charlie’s premiere on Netflix on March 15. Check out the rest of Netflix’s March offerings here. And even if you’re not totally sold on Turn Up Charlie, it may be worth seeing if Elba shines on his Saturday Night Live hosting debut on March 9.