Idris Elba to direct movie musical

Actor Idris Elba is set to make his film directorial debut on a new movie based on the music of R&B singer K. Michelle.

The V.S.O.P. hitmaker released her debut album, Rebellious Soul, last year (13), and now she has transformed the record into a musical, with the Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom star set to helm the project.

During a recent interview on Chicago's WGCI Morning Riot show, K. Michelle revealed, "My album, Rebellious Soul, we turned it into a musical and Idris Elba is the director.

"I took every song on Rebellious Soul and turned it into a conversation and flipped it... I turned the whole album around, Idris heard it. Loved it. And we decided to team up on it.

"I didn't want to make it this celebrity thing. Me and him decided we really wanted it to be focused on the story and fun and laugh and cry. People have been talking to me about a lot of acting roles, but this will be my first time (acting) on the screen."

K. Michelle says the movie will air on the VH1 network, which is also the home to reality TV series Love & Hip Hop, on which she stars.

Elba stepped behind the camera last year (13) to direct The Pavement Psychologist, a one-off drama as part of Sky TV's Playhouse Presents series.