With ‘Yardie,’ Idris Elba hopes to change the way black characters are portrayed in films

Idris Elba wants to upend the way black characters are portrayed in films — even in gangster films.

“We tend to go for the violence. We tend to go for the most traumatic part. Of course, these films can be compelling but [they paint a bleak picture],” the actor-turned-director said. “The opportunity...