Previously dubbed as British TV’s ‘most violent’ show, with some even claiming it’s ‘better than Peaky Blinders’, Gangs Of London will return to screens on Thursday night.

The drama tells the story of the capital being torn apart by international gangs’ power struggles and debuted on Sky Atlantic in 2020, with a second series dropping in 2022.

And it boasts a talented cast, including Joe Cole as Sean Wallace, Michelle Fairley in the role of Marian Wallace and Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù as Elliot Carter.

Sope is returning for series three and told The Standard in 2023 that fans should expect ‘something special’.

The actor, 33, has seen his career go from strength to strength since first landing his role on the show, winning legions of fans with his acting skills and stunt work.

Sope was born in London to Nigerian parents and studied Economics at the University of Birmingham before starting his career in the arts.

Previously dubbed as British TV’s ‘most violent’ show, with some even claiming it’s ‘better than Peaky Blinders ‘, Gangs Of London will return to screens on Thursday night (Sope seen in show)

Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù is returning as Elliot Carter for series three and told The Standard in 2023 that fans should expect ‘something special’ (pictured in 2022)

He has treaded the boards in a number of plays with the Royal Shakespeare Company, including The Whipping Man, Tory Boyz, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Red Riding Hood, Our Days of Rage, Fallujah, and Pericles.

While on the small screen, he has enjoyed roles on TV series such as The Mill, Utopia, Humans, The Casual Vacancy, Siblings, Undercover and 2016 Black Mirror episode, Nosedive, alongside Bryce Dallas Howard.

Sope also had small parts in blockbuster films The Huntsman: Winter’s War and Sand Castle, sharing the screen with Hollywood heavyweights Charlize Theron, Nicholas Hoult, Emily Blunt, Henry Cavill, Chris Hemsworth and Jessica Chastain.

He won critical acclaim for his starring role in horror film His House in 2020, going on to be nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award that year, alongside Kingsley Ben-Adir, Morfydd Clark, Conrad Khan and Bukky Bakray – the latter of whom won.

While he also starred the тιтular character in Mr. Malcolm’s List, the third season of the Apple TV series Slow Horses in 2023 and most recently in The Gorge, opposite Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sigourney Weaver.

He will next be seen in leading roles in upcoming films Uncle and My Father’s Shadow, as well as much-anticipated TV series Black Rabbit, starring Jason Bateman and Jude Law.

When asked about what kind of projects he’d like to work on, Sope previously told Esquire he wants to ‘create what is ostensibly a Black Indiana Jones, and sprinkle in some real lost African history into those films.’

He added: ‘I love discovering new things. I did The Huntsman: Winter’s War. That was quite fantasy, and I enjoyed the taste of that – I’d love to do more fantasy stuff. 

The actor, 33, has seen his career go from strength to strength since first landing his role on the show, winning legions of fans with his acting skills and stunt work (seen in show)

He has treaded the boards in a number of plays including with the Royal Shakespeare Company (seen with Wendell Pierce, Sharon D Clarke and Natey Jones in Death of a Salesman in 2019)

‘I suppose the closest I’ve come to sci-fi would be Humans or Black Mirror – but neither of those were in space!

‘I would love to do sci fi stories, romance stories, fantasy stories, you know, I want to tell all the stories under the sun – stories that make me smile like this are the ones I want to tell. I’m sure there are thousands of them out there. I’m looking forward to finding more!’

And one huge role that he has seen his name in the running for is that of the next James Bond, after Daniel Craig’s departure.

Sope has seen his odds slashed by betting sites as more fans have suggested he would make an incredible 007.

Speaking to Radio Times about taking on the role of the world’s most famous spy in 2021, he admitted: I really enjoy the rough and tumble of action sequences, and I try to do all of my own stunts. I think that the role of James Bond – wow – is the pinnacle of those things, you know?

‘I think Barbara [Broccoli] and everybody at EON are constantly striving to keep [Bond] at the forefront of that genre.

‘I have no idea if they’ll come to me with that, but I want to continue to put myself in a position and do the work that would make them consider me – but also work that I’m proud of, that engages me and engages audiences. If it was Bond… then we’ll see when we get there.’

He also told the Hollywood Reporter in 2022 that suggestions about him playing Bond first began when he was just 15 years old, explaining: ‘I played Macbeth in a school play and my best friend was like, “Hey, you’d be a great Bond”.

He won critical acclaim for his starring role in horror film His House in 2020, going on to be nominated for the BAFTA Rising Star Award that year (seen in film with Wunmi Mosaku)

While he also starred the тιтular character in Mr. Malcolm’s List (pictured), Slow Horses in 2023 and most recently in The Gorge, opposite Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Sigourney Weaver

‘It’s something that has crept up over time. But then you do a Gangs of London, and the world gets to see you.’

However, Sope admitted he didn’t see his chances of bagging the sought-after role as being very high, pointing out how Pierce Brosnan and Daniel had been relative outsiders.

He said: ‘I think the shortest I’ve ever been at any one time is 6 to 1, and that’s too close. I think Bond is the kingmaker — rather than [that] someone who is already king gets to be Bond. So yeah, the shorter the odds are, the less likely it’s going to happen.

‘If they’re thinking, he’d be a great Bond, I can change the character in my head to fit him and I think he’d do it justice, it’s a vote of confidence that I really appreciate.

‘But then any frustration comes the fact that I remember it’s not in my control. I can only do my best work and see what I get offered.’

Sope is returning in Gangs of London’s highly-anticipated series three premiere, with plenty of drama and excitement in store for his character Elliot.

The upcoming season’s synopsis reads: ‘Ex-undercover cop turned gangster Elliot is now operating as a top-level criminal alongside the Dumanis, but their business is thrown into chaos when their shipment of cocaine is spiked, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians all over London.

‘The ensuing chaos attracts attention from the authorities, putting the gangs of London under pressure like never before and the ripple effects – both personal and professional – will have devastating consequences for everyone from the Wallaces, to Luan, to Lale and the street gangs.

He will next be seen in upcoming films Uncle and My Father’s Shadow, as well as much-anticipated TV series Black Rabbit, starring Jason Bateman and Jude Law (seen last month)

And one huge role that he has seen his name in the running for is that of the next James Bond, after Daniel Craig’s departure (pictured last month)

Sope is returning in Gangs of London’s highly-anticipated series three premiere, with plenty of drama and excitement in store for his character Elliot (pictured)

‘This was a targeted attack and it’s only the beginning, but the question is – who did it and why?’

While the official trailer for the third series teased that the upcoming instalment will be as gory as ever.

The first season made headlines for its stratospheric levels of violence as its nine episodes featured 113 deaths – 96 people sH๏τ (mostly fatally), 30 stabbings and seven people strangled.

Lucian Msamati is back as Ed Dumani, Brian Vernel as Billy Wallace and Narges Rashidi as Lale. 

Also returning to the action thriller are Pippa Bennett-Warner as Shannon Dumani, Asif Raza Mir as Asif Afidi, Orli Shuka and Eri Shuka as Luan and Mirlinda Dushaj, Jahz Armando as Saba, and Fady Elsayed as Faz.

As a ᴅᴇᴀᴅly betrayal plunges London into chaos, the gangs find themselves navigating between vengeance and survival like never before.

And Sope recently said that he’d ‘met his match’ when filming season three fight sequence with new cast member Andrew Koji, who plays mysterious ᴀssᴀssin Zeek.

Speaking to Digital Spy this week, he admitted: ‘Going up against Andrew Koji was an experience.

And Sope recently said that he’d ‘met his match’ when filming season three fight sequence with new cast member Andrew Koji, who plays mysterious ᴀssᴀssin Zeek

‘He’s a very talented martial artist and he’s an excellent actor. I really felt that Elliot had met his match in the series in the same way that I had met my match in the performance.

‘I would say [Elliot] takes a lot more damage than he has in the series before’.

Sope went on to explain how the new season will explore Elliot’s backstory more, saying: ‘In season three, we find out a lot more about what actually happened to [his family]… the story that he told Shannon in series one might not have been the whole truth, but part of it was the truth to the best of his knowledge.’

He continued: ‘I get constantly surprised by where he ends up. I always get surprised by the depths that he can go to as well and that allows me to discover him anew every year, peel back the layers and then share that with our audience.