Idris Elba claims movie version of hit detective series Luther is ‘this close’ to happening

He found international fame as DCI John Luther  in the acclaimed BBC series Luther.

And Idris Elba is once again teasing a big screen outing for the unorthodox British detective.

‘I’ve made it very clear that I’d like to see Luther come back as a film. And I can tell you this, that we are this close to making a film of Luther,’ the actor, 47, said while promoting his comedy series In The Long Run. 

The news that a feature version of the series may definitely be on the cards was first reported by London’s Sky News. 

Luther premiered in 2010 and garnered rave reviews and a loyal following.

It also made a star of Ruth Wilson who played narcissistic murderer Alice Morgan and went on to star in Showtime’s The Affair and the film Saving Mr. Banks.

The fifth season of Luther was broadcast in January 2019 and ended on a cliffhanger with plenty of loose ends that could be explored in a movie version.

Elba as well as series creator and writer Neil Cross have long spoken of doing a film version.

There’s no word on whether the BBC might commission a sixth season of the drama. 

Prior to Luther, London-born Elba starred from 2002 to 2004 on HBO’s groundbreaking series The Wire.

But it was Luther that really launched his Hollywood career, leading to roles in Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance, Prometheus, Pacific Rim and Star Trek Beyond.

He joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Heimdall in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Infinity War.

He was most recently seen on the big screen in box office hit Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw and box office flop Cats.