Idris Elba has confirmed he will be working on a movie version of Luther this year, after it was revealed there won’t be a sixth season of the hit BBC show.
During an appearance on The All-New Capital Weekender on Friday, the 48-year-old actor revealed he’s preparing to go into production on the psychological drama, in which he plays the hard-bitten but brilliant Detective Chief Inspector John Luther.
Speaking with host MistaJam, the east London native was asked about his 2021 plans, and duly responded: ‘Definitely making more music, people that love my film and stuff, listen, I’m going to be making Luther: The Movie.’
He went on: ‘I’m super excited and I hope the fans are sort of excited for that. It’s been a long time coming for a movie, for people that have loved the show. We’ve been making the show for 10 years, so we’re making film.’
The show, which also starred Ruth Wilson ran for ran for five hugely successful seasons between 2010 and 2019.
Elsewhere in his interview, Elba also revealed that he’ll be releasing new music with Franky Wah and chart-topping American rap sensation Megan Thee Stallion.
Elba said: ‘I’m doing more music, Jam you know what it’s like, I’m trying to stay with it when we’re not gigging now. So I’ve got some really cool music coming, been working with Franky Wah on a tune I’m looking forward to dropping.
‘I’ve got a bit of a banger, I don’t want to say too much but me, Megan Thee Stallion and Davido that’s coming. Shout out to the fanatics.’
Back in November, Neil Cross, the man responsible for writing and developing Luther, told Australia’s Insider magazine confirmed there wouldn’t be a sixth season of the popular British psychological crime drama.
‘There is not going to be a season six — definitively no season six,’ he told the publication, but gave fans a glimpse of hope for Luther to live on in other ways.
He said: ‘Idris, [director] Jamie Payne, and I will shortly have some exciting news to share. There’s gonna be more later, but it’s not going to be season six.’
A month earlier, Cross, 51, expressed his confidence that Elba will pull on Luther’s famous overcoat for a big screen addition in the near future.
He told the Radio Times: ‘Ask Idris! We are – I don’t know what I’m allowed to say, which is an answer in of itself! Words are my job and I’ve lost them all.
‘We wanna make more Luther. We’re gonna make more Luther. The how and the why, that’s all to come, but we’re gonna make more Luther.’
Inspired by legendary detective Sherlock Holmes and American sleuth Columbo, the show relies on Luther’s supreme intellect to solve a series of complex crimes across London.
Reflecting on the show in 2019, Elba admitted he was anxious to see it developed into a feature, and insisted he was keen to get on board at the nearest available opportunity.
‘I’ve maintained that I’d like to see [Luther] come to a film,’ he said. ‘That’s what I think we’re headed towards, is a film. I’m looking forward to making that happen… It is happening!
‘With film, the sky is the limit. You can be a little bit more bold with the storylines, and a little bit more international, and a little more up the scale. But John Luther is always going to be John Luther.’
He added: ‘Neil is beavering away on writing this thing, and I think the remit for the film is to scale it up.
‘It will be more murder, more Volvos, more frowning Luther… essentially we just want to try to take it to a much bigger audience and scale, and perhaps international as well.’
With COVID-19 restrictions currently limiting production, a schedule for any potential film is yet to be confirmed.
The show, which also features Steven Mackintosh, Paul McGann and Indira Varma, has won numerous awards in the UK and US following its original launch.
Elba has been recognized with a Critics’ Choice Television Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Golden Globe Award for his role as Luther, while the show has been nominated for eleven Primetime Emmy Awards.