MOVIE NEWS – Luther, the acclaimed British crime thriller starring Idris Elba as the brilliant but haunted detective, might not be over just yet. The news comes straight from creator Neil Cross, who hinted that the universe of the troubled agent isn’t finished. However, fans shouldn’t expect a new season — instead, another movie could be in the works.

Cross confirmed this during an interview with The Radio Times Writers’ Room. While the original BBC series is widely regarded as far superior to the 2023 film and has developed a strong cult following, the showrunner said that a movie would feel like a more “natural” continuation for the character.

“Certainly, were he to come back, were that happy event to take place, I think film would be the natural place for him. There are extraordinarily strong possibilities you might see him again. Is that the heaviest hint that’s possible to give without Netflix sending a trained assassin around to silence me? Yeah, there’s every chance you will meet him again.”

While Cross didn’t specify his exact plans for the Luther franchise, he did tease a possible spin-off set in the same universe as the iconic detective. “The world of Luther… I think, things are such now that it’s not just a character, it’s a world. If you’ve gone on long enough, there’s a world to inhabit, and elements of that world can belong on the big or the small screen.”

The TV series Luther ran for five seasons between 2010 and 2019, totaling 20 episodes. It followed DCI John Luther, an obsessive detective known for his brilliance and violent tendencies. His investigation into a murderer named Alice Morgan leads to an unusual bond that challenges his moral limits.

In 2023, Netflix released Luther: The Fallen Sun, featuring the detective hunting down a sadistic serial killer. Alongside Idris Elba, the film starred Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis, Dermot Crowley, and Hattie Morahan. Though critics generally praised the film, it didn’t reach the same cultural impact as the original series — currently sitting at 67% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Neil Cross remains the creative powerhouse behind the franchise, having written every script since its BBC One debut in 2010. Still, it’s difficult to picture a Luther project without Idris Elba’s magnetic presence. Could a spin-off thrive without him? It would be a risky move, though the world of Luther certainly has enough compelling characters to explore further.

Source: MovieWeb