As the frontman of dance troupe Diversity, Ashley Banjo has always been a bit of a trailblazer.
But his latest project is a step in a new direction – an action movie with dancing at its heart.
Ashley, 32, told the Sunday Mirror: “We’re creating a genuine blockbuster release – a feature film for the cinema.
“It has a feel like Mission Impossible or Fast & Furious.
“Imagine a franchise like those but with dance stunts and genuine creativity at the heart of it.”
Diversity, who rose to fame after winning Britain’s Got Talent in 2009, are in talks with directors and producers in the UK and Hollywood.
Ashley said: “I can’t say who, but they’re very experienced in action movies and they know dance. It’s very cool.
“Dance films always have cheesy, predictable scripts – but dance in a cinematic form has never been used in the way we present it.”
Diversity have just shot their first short film for their YouTube channel, promoting sports nutrition brand, Grenade.
But Dancing on Ice judge Ashley has never been shy about bringing a social conscience to his work.
Since 2017, the dad-of-two has been a presenter on ITV’s The Real Full Monty, highlighting the importance of checking your body for cancer, and he is also a long-time supporter of The Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards.
Last September, Diversity’s Black Lives Matter-inspired performance on BGT led to 24,500 complaints.
Ashley was praised for the grace with which he defended the show – and last month, it won a BAFTA.
He said: “I’m proud with Diversity we’ve done things no other dance group in the world has done.
I want to see how far we can take that journey.”
■ Ashley Banjo has directed the explosive short film for sports nutrition brand, Grenade. View it on Diversity’s YouTube channel now.
