Acclaimed actor and filmmaker Idris Elba is expanding his footprint in the entertainment industry, launching the new production company 22Summers in partnership with former BBC and Pulse Films executive Diene Petterle. The duo’s ambitious venture will initially focus on high-end documentary fare with a cultural slant while also building a scripted division.
Leading the company’s inaugural slate is the four-part docuseries Erased: WWII Heroes of Color, a co-production with October Films that made its debut on Disney+, Hulu, and National Geographic today. Narrated and executive produced by Elba, the documentary explores the often overlooked contributions of soldiers of color during World War II through first-hand accounts and archival footage.
“Both Diene and I always look for the hidden layers in a story, the surprising ways in,” Elba told Deadline. “In her Emmy and BAFTA-winning work, she is always using humor and emotion to get under the viewer’s skin. I’m excited by the idea that together we can create a home for best-in-class filmmakers and make cinematic films that inspire and entertain.”
Petterle, who joins 22Summers as a partner after previous stints at Pulse Films, Darlow Smithson, and the BBC, echoed Elba’s enthusiasm. “I’m incredibly excited to be working with Idris,” she stated. “I’m a huge fan of his screen work but also his work as a filmmaker. There is such honesty and integrity in everything he does. The sky is the limit with him, and that feels genuinely exciting.”
The launch of 22Summers marks the culmination of Elba’s previous production endeavors under his Green Door Pictures banner, now folded into the new multi-platform company alongside Petterle’s Drumroll Films. With an eye towards being a full-service outfit guiding projects from conception to delivery, 22Summers has already made a key hire in Jess Watts, who joins as Head of Development for Unscripted after developing projects like Coleen Rooney, The Real Wagatha Story.
While Erased kicks things off on the documentary front, the company is already building a roster of scripted content as well. As Elba continues to balance his prolific acting career with his burgeoning role as a producer, 22Summers represents an ambitious new chapter that could make him a major creative force both in front of and behind the camera.
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With Petterle’s accomplished background and a mandate to “inspire and entertain” through cinematic, emotional storytelling, the newly minted production company enters the fray with considerable industry experience and thestar power of Elba’s involvement. As they continue to ramp up operations, 22Summers could quickly become a key player in delivering compelling, culturally relevant content across multiple platforms.
