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Luther's back… and this time he's on the wrong side of the law Luther's back… and this time he's on the wrong side of the law
(3 months later)
Film and television star Idris Elba is back on the small screen this week in his role as the obsessive detective John Luther after a break of two years. However, he told the Observer what he would really like to return to is his first love, the theatre, and he would particularly like a role in a musical.Film and television star Idris Elba is back on the small screen this week in his role as the obsessive detective John Luther after a break of two years. However, he told the Observer what he would really like to return to is his first love, the theatre, and he would particularly like a role in a musical.
"I do want to walk the boards again – I started in theatre and want to do it again very soon," he said. He hopes this might happen when he next has a break in his schedule, in 2015. He confirmed that his voice is still in fine fettle; he won a place at the National Youth Music Theatre in 1988, assisted by a Prince's Trust award, which was the launch of his acting career."I do want to walk the boards again – I started in theatre and want to do it again very soon," he said. He hopes this might happen when he next has a break in his schedule, in 2015. He confirmed that his voice is still in fine fettle; he won a place at the National Youth Music Theatre in 1988, assisted by a Prince's Trust award, which was the launch of his acting career.
London-born Elba, 40, said he liked to develop his range. So, after being cast by HBO as "Stringer" Bell, a drug lord, in The Wire, which gave him a large fanbase in the US, he was pleased to swap sides. "In the States I'd done The Wire, stereotyping me as a gangster. Luther reminded me I didn't have to be. I played a cop in a flagship show on BBC1."London-born Elba, 40, said he liked to develop his range. So, after being cast by HBO as "Stringer" Bell, a drug lord, in The Wire, which gave him a large fanbase in the US, he was pleased to swap sides. "In the States I'd done The Wire, stereotyping me as a gangster. Luther reminded me I didn't have to be. I played a cop in a flagship show on BBC1."
In the past 18 months he has starred in two very different movies: Prometheus, a sci-fi fantasy directed by Ridley Scott, which culminates in a terrifying battle for human survival, and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which is awaiting release. He has also continued been on the international clubbing circuit, as an MC, with trips to Ibiza. He started out as Big Driis on the London rave scene of the late 1980s, and last year he presented a Channel 4 documentary, How Clubbing Changed the World.In the past 18 months he has starred in two very different movies: Prometheus, a sci-fi fantasy directed by Ridley Scott, which culminates in a terrifying battle for human survival, and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, which is awaiting release. He has also continued been on the international clubbing circuit, as an MC, with trips to Ibiza. He started out as Big Driis on the London rave scene of the late 1980s, and last year he presented a Channel 4 documentary, How Clubbing Changed the World.
Elba was speaking at the screening of Luther 3, which starts a four-part series on Tuesday(2 July), and centres on the hunt for a fetishistic serial murderer. In a twist introduced by the writer Neil Cross, Luther is himself facing investigation for his unconventional methods – in episode one, in a scene of dark comedy, you see him dangling a surly suspect over the balcony of a block of flats.Elba was speaking at the screening of Luther 3, which starts a four-part series on Tuesday(2 July), and centres on the hunt for a fetishistic serial murderer. In a twist introduced by the writer Neil Cross, Luther is himself facing investigation for his unconventional methods – in episode one, in a scene of dark comedy, you see him dangling a surly suspect over the balcony of a block of flats.
Later, by getting involved in an office scuffle, he bungles what could have been a lifesaving call to a couple who are about to become victims. But after a car crash he also finds romance, and shows a gallant, gentle giant side.Later, by getting involved in an office scuffle, he bungles what could have been a lifesaving call to a couple who are about to become victims. But after a car crash he also finds romance, and shows a gallant, gentle giant side.
He said: "I think this season was waiting to happen. Luther gets investigated. Where do we go after two seasons, terrorising people the way he does? He has to be held up by the collar and asked: 'What the fuck are you doing?'He said: "I think this season was waiting to happen. Luther gets investigated. Where do we go after two seasons, terrorising people the way he does? He has to be held up by the collar and asked: 'What the fuck are you doing?'
"But, you know, we all love super-heroes, and once you accept he is a larger-than-life character … in this season it all comes to a head. We definitely pushed the envelope.""But, you know, we all love super-heroes, and once you accept he is a larger-than-life character … in this season it all comes to a head. We definitely pushed the envelope."
He said he was proud of Luther: "We only dreamed what it could become here [in Britain]." BBC audiences for Luther grew from an average 5m for series one – though it received a mixed critical response – to 6.1m in series two, shown in 2011, with the final episode peaking at 6.8m. On the BBC America channel it was in the top three programmes, alongside Doctor Who and Top Gear, and won Elba a Golden Globe award and an Emmy nomination. Philippa Giles, executive producer of Luther, said that the first series was more quickly embraced by Americans than Britons.He said he was proud of Luther: "We only dreamed what it could become here [in Britain]." BBC audiences for Luther grew from an average 5m for series one – though it received a mixed critical response – to 6.1m in series two, shown in 2011, with the final episode peaking at 6.8m. On the BBC America channel it was in the top three programmes, alongside Doctor Who and Top Gear, and won Elba a Golden Globe award and an Emmy nomination. Philippa Giles, executive producer of Luther, said that the first series was more quickly embraced by Americans than Britons.
Kate Harwood, the BBC head of in-house drama production, said Giles had shown her Cross's "one-page pitch for the idea of a deductive, complex detective hunting down big villains, where the audience would know who the bad guy was from the off. We commissioned very quickly. Idris was not attached to the proposal but we knew we needed a powerful alpha-male actor. Idris was at the very top of the list. It was colour-blind casting."Kate Harwood, the BBC head of in-house drama production, said Giles had shown her Cross's "one-page pitch for the idea of a deductive, complex detective hunting down big villains, where the audience would know who the bad guy was from the off. We commissioned very quickly. Idris was not attached to the proposal but we knew we needed a powerful alpha-male actor. Idris was at the very top of the list. It was colour-blind casting."
Elba, who is also billed as an executive producer, described his input: "I don't tend to get involved in who we hire as actors. My imprint as a producer is … fighting for what we think is better for the drama. I'm not hands-on, but my opinion matters. If I get to a set and the script doesn't feel right, I can say so. "Elba, who is also billed as an executive producer, described his input: "I don't tend to get involved in who we hire as actors. My imprint as a producer is … fighting for what we think is better for the drama. I'm not hands-on, but my opinion matters. If I get to a set and the script doesn't feel right, I can say so. "
Despite movie success, Elba prefers TV. "It's where I cut my teeth. Film is much slower and a waste of money.Despite movie success, Elba prefers TV. "It's where I cut my teeth. Film is much slower and a waste of money.
"It's good to see the humour come to the surface in this series. Hanging around with real detectives, you find they do have a sense of humour or they would go mad. We didn't push that in the first two series. But [Luther] has embraced a new life, a new moment. Laughing is part of it … [But] it's not much fun making it. A lot of it is shot late at night, it's grim, we're shivering, the victims are often lying about in the dirt. It's hard work.""It's good to see the humour come to the surface in this series. Hanging around with real detectives, you find they do have a sense of humour or they would go mad. We didn't push that in the first two series. But [Luther] has embraced a new life, a new moment. Laughing is part of it … [But] it's not much fun making it. A lot of it is shot late at night, it's grim, we're shivering, the victims are often lying about in the dirt. It's hard work."
The series is shot in Hackney. "That's my community, close to my old school. I liked being embraced by them. We love London, it's great to shoot here."The series is shot in Hackney. "That's my community, close to my old school. I liked being embraced by them. We love London, it's great to shoot here."
Luther is on BBC1 at 9pm on TuesdayLuther is on BBC1 at 9pm on Tuesday
Idris Elba got his first big break on American TV playing the drugs kingpin "Stringer" Bell in The Wire for three series. The sleek and corrupt Bell worked hard to give the underworld in Baltimore a legitimate face.Idris Elba got his first big break on American TV playing the drugs kingpin "Stringer" Bell in The Wire for three series. The sleek and corrupt Bell worked hard to give the underworld in Baltimore a legitimate face.
In Kenneth Branagh's epic film Thor, Elba took the role of the Norse god Heimdall (pictured), guardian of the burning rainbow bridge between the world of men and the world of gods - "by way of Hackney", as the actor put it.In Kenneth Branagh's epic film Thor, Elba took the role of the Norse god Heimdall (pictured), guardian of the burning rainbow bridge between the world of men and the world of gods - "by way of Hackney", as the actor put it.
In Prometheus, Ridley Scott's 2012 sci-fi extravaganza, Elba was at the helm as the responsible Captain Janek.In Prometheus, Ridley Scott's 2012 sci-fi extravaganza, Elba was at the helm as the responsible Captain Janek.
Later this summer, Elba will be back on screens playing Stacker Pentecost in Guillermo del Toro's ambitious sci-fi Pacific Rim.Later this summer, Elba will be back on screens playing Stacker Pentecost in Guillermo del Toro's ambitious sci-fi Pacific Rim.
Elba is to take on the role of Nelson Mandela in director Justin Chadwick's biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, due out at the end of the year.Elba is to take on the role of Nelson Mandela in director Justin Chadwick's biopic Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, due out at the end of the year.
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