Idris Elba, who recently announced he would be returning as Luther for a new mini-series, is seemingly branching out into the world of travel. The actor will race around the world on land, sea and in the air in a new series for Discovery designed to explain the mechanics of speed. 

Idris ElbaIdris Elba will race around the world for the Discovery channel

The four-episode series that has the working title The Idris Elba Project is set to air mid-2015 on Discovery and across international markets. The actor said the show would cover his training with top engineers and racing experts.

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"I'll meet extraordinary individuals, spectacular machines and hear amazing stories of how far people go to satisfy their love of speed," Elba said in a statement. "The extreme challenges will take me right out of my comfort zone as I compete against the best on land, water and in the air."

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Elba is arguably one of the hardest working actors in the business at present and as well as his television projects, has eight movies in some form of production. The Hackney-born actor will voice Shere Khan in Jon Favreau's Jungle Book movie and will also lend his voice to the Finding Nemo sequel, Finding Dory. He also stars as Heimdall in Avengers: Age of Ultron and has also joined Jim Watkins' Bastille Day about a young artist and former CIA agent who embarks on an anti-terrorist mission in France.

The Discovery project comes from from the production pact that Green Door and Shine North set up earlier this year. Elba is also on-board as an executive producer.

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