While the idea of seeing Idris Elba’s rule-snapping John Luther stalking the big screen is hardly new, it would seem we are actually getting closer to it being a reality, with Luther creator Neil Cross talking about his progress at the Edinburgh Television Festival.
"I've written the script and we hope to get the film made next year," he said. "Idris is a brilliant leading man and we've hoped to turn Luther into a movie for a long time." Cross has drawn inspiration for the film’s plot from his novel about the character, The Calling, which is set before the series happens. It’ll allow for some characters – such as Indira Varma’s Zoe – to return, and set up everything that happens to John Luther in the original episodes.
Sadly for the series itself, the movie world has now snapped up that leading man for itself, and Elba’s busy big screen career means that we’ve likely seen the last of “Loofah” on our tellies, with the final episode of the recent third series definitely feeling like Cross and co wrapping things up. Any movie would have to find space in Elba's increasingly packed schedule, though he's already said he'd make the time.
Still, while a prequel would rule out an appearance from Ruth Wilson’s psychotic, cunning Alice, Cross is exploring the idea of a spin-off about her character, which he’s been cooking up since at least last year. "The truth is I absolutely adore Alice! We're kind of thinking very loosely of a mix between **The Talented Mr. Ripley **and The Last Seduction."