Luther has gained a rather huge following in the UK with its clever villains and intriguing plot lines. Who doesn’t love to watch an angry Idris Elba solve cases with his wits alone? Now there’s more good news as a remake of the crime drama has been announced for the US. Yes, the brooding detective will grace the silver screens of America in one form or another. Original “Luther” creator Neil Cross will be producing and writing the remake pilot and actor Idris Elba is attached as executive producer. Luther has found its home at FOX, the television company that has brought us shows like Gotham and Sleepy Hollow.
Being regarded as one of the most acclaimed British TV series, Luther centers on John Luther (played by Idris Elba) a detective whose street smart demeanor and high crime solving capabilities prove to be a blessing and a curse for him and for the ones he holds dear. Cross decided to end the gritty show’s run after three seasons consisting of a total of 14 episodes. Cross is no stranger to US television as he brought forth the pirate drama Crossbones for NBC which he also penned, created and produced. Idris Elba will not reprise his role in the Luther remake thus leaving us to speculate at the moment who will be his American counterpart. Knowing that Elba won a Golden Globe for his perfomance in Luther and the show’s overall quality guaranteed it several NAACP nominations makes me hopeful for the remake.
Neil Cross does not intend to go on with the British series but has expressed interest in continuing Luther’s journey on the big screen. When asked about the movie, Idris Elba said :”we do want a new audience, but we also want to keep the fans interested, so we have to tread very carefully.” This can explain Neil Cross’s desire to bring Luther overseas. Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope from Chernin Entertainment and BBC’s Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner are also set to executive produce the American remake. Remakes of popular shows are not uncommon nowadays, another British show that has recently re-entered the American airwaves being Gracepoint with David Tennant playing the lead in both the original and the adaptation. No airing date has been revealed for Luther as of yet.