On the heels of news earlier this week that the series is set for an American remake, BBC America announced today that Idris Elba’s original “Luther” will also be returning. Elba is set to reprise the role of DCI John Luther, the murder detective whose brilliant mind can’t always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions, for a two-episode fourth series that will air in 2015.
“Ever since we said goodbye to John Luther on Southwark Bridge, there’s hardly been a minute when I didn’t wonder what happened next,” says Emmy-nominated writer and series creator Neil Cross. “So I decided to find out. We’re putting the band back together; Luther is coming back where he belongs. Back to the BBC. Back to London. And back to work.”
Elba most recently starred opposite Taraji P. Henson in director Sam Miller’s crime thriller No Good Deed. His upcoming films include three literary adapations: Pierre Morel’s The Gunman (where he stars opposite Sean Penn), Beasts of No Nation (the latest feature from “True Detective” creator Cary Fukunaga) and Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book (the first of two dueling Rudyard Kipling adaptations on the way). He’s also set to executive produce the upcoming American version of “Luther,” which will also be written by Cross.
“Luther” will begin production in London in March 2015 with the new minseries planned to consist of two hourlong episodes. Both will then air later in 2015 on BBC America. Previously, the show’s first series ran for six episodes in 2010 with series two and three both consisting of four episodes each (in 2011 and 2013, respectively).
Elizabeth Kilgarriff will serve as executive producer for BBC Drama Production, England. “Luther” is made by BBC Drama Production, co-produced with BBC America.
If you missed them back in September, you can click here to check out our exclusive No Good Deed interviews with both Elba and Henson.
