Luther to get the big screen treatment as writer confirms Idris Elba and sidekick Warren Brown will both star in prequel film



Viewers have been left wanting more since BBC drama Luther came to an end last month and now it’s been confirmed that the hit series will get the big screen treatment.



Writer Neil Cross has revealed that most of the cast will be back for the anticipated film, including leading man Idris Elba and Warren Brown as the detective’s sidekick Justin Ripley.



Viewers saw Ripley shot dead in the TV finale in July but Cross has revealed he was so keen to include the character in the film that he’s penned a prequel script.

To the big screen: Idris Ellba will star in a movie spin off of hit detective drama Luther

Cross has revealed that it didn’t feel right doing a movie without Brown’s character, so it made sense to go back to the beginning for the film.



Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Cross revealed: ‘I’ve written the script and we hope to get the film made next year.’



‘Idris is a brilliant leading man and we’ve hoped to turn Luther into a movie for a long time.’

He'll be back: Idris will reprise his lead role as DCI John Luther alongside DS Justin Ripley (Warren Brown)

'It will follow his career in the earlier days, when he is still married to Zoe, and the final scene in the film is the first of the initial TV series.’



Whilst fans will no doubt be thrilled by the resurgence of Ripley and other characters including Luther’s wife Zoe (Indira Varma) and colleague Ian Reed (Steve Mackintosh), the prequel setting leaves no room for the popular character of Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson) to make an appearance.



Ruth, who's character Luther meets in the first TV episode, could reprise her role as murderous Alice though, with rumours of a spin off series.

Sorry Alice: The planned prequel setting for the film means murderous Alice (Ruth Wilson) won't appear

‘The BBC is very interested in the project,’ Cross told Variety magazine 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.’



Leading man Idris, 40, meanwhile is sure to be pleased with a transfer to the big screen. The actor revealed to Entertainment Weekly earlier this year that he was hoping for one more outing as the London detective:

‘It’s our engine at the moment. Neil wants to make it and so do I, and we are hopefully making steps towards that. It’s a long process,’ Elba admitted.

Hollywood hotshot: Idris has gone onto land starring roles in blockbusters like this summer's Pacific Rim

The Canning Town born actor has gone on to have huge success in Hollywood since his break out role as Stringer Bell in the critically acclaimed HBO drama The Wire.

