Lionsgate and Collider have released the first official images from Above the Below, the sci-fi survival thriller marking Idris Elba’s second feature as a director, co-directed with Martin Owen. Elba made his directorial debut in 2018 with Yardie, a crime drama adapted from Victor Headley’s novel. Elba also stars in Above the Below, alongside Hero Fiennes Tiffin and Caitlin Fitzgerald, with the film set for a theatrical release on December 4.
The story follows three astronauts who survive a catastrophic fall from space, only to become trapped in the crushing depths of the ocean as their oxygen runs out, forcing impossible choices over who risks everything to reach the surface and who gets left behind. Owen originated the concept for the film, with Elizabeth Morris, Matthew Mitchell, and Vicki Sargent writing the screenplay. The film runs a tight 85 minutes and is rated R.
Elba returning to directing arrives at a moment when he’s already one of the industry’s most in-demand actors, having starred in two of streaming’s biggest 2025 releases, A House of Dynamite and Heads of State, before 2026’s Masters of the Universe, which became one of Prime Video’s most-watched titles despite underperforming theatrically. That pattern, a major Black actor’s star power translating reliably into streaming success even when traditional box office numbers lag, continues to shape how studios weigh theatrical risk against guaranteed digital viewership. Elba stepping back into a co-directing role, nearly a decade after his first, also reflects how established actors often take long gaps between directing projects while their acting careers stay in constant motion.
Gina Carter and Matt Williams produce. Elba also currently stars in the second season of Apple TV’s Hijack. He previously clarified publicly that he was never actually in contention to play James Bond, despite years of fan speculation.
With first-look images now out and a trailer expected soon, the real test ahead is whether Above the Below‘s tight runtime and high-concept premise can carry a theatrical release in a marketplace where Elba’s recent work has found its biggest audiences on streaming instead.