Luther US version, executive-produced by Idris Elba, no longer happening
In a piece over at Broadcast Now, Fox’s own Dana Walden made it clear that one of the reasons behind the project falling through, despite some initial hype and a good bit of buzz a couple of years back, was the struggle to come up with someone who could’ve been a capable lead similar to Idris Elba. She confirmed that Mahershala Ali, best known for his Oscar win on Moonlight (we personally still know him best for The 4400), was someone who was also discussed on some level:
“It’s a little daunting to contemplate who is Luther now when US viewers can see the [original] show on Netflix and BBC America. I’ve seen black, male Luther. I know exactly the best version of it. I saw it with Idris. That doesn’t mean Mahershala wouldn’t have done something really interesting and different. But it felt ultimately like a character who came from the same place, because the US version is even written similarly.”
Sure, it’s disappointing on some level to not see this happen given that the original is such a great show, but at the same time Walden has a great point that no one can measure up to the sheer awesomeness that is Idris. We also think that there are going to be plenty of original concepts out there that are worth exploring. There are already such a sheer abundance of remakes out there that it doesn’t quite make sense to see more and more of them get pushed and pushed. Without original ideas, there wouldn’t be a Luther in the first place. (For the record, Elba was meant to be involved in the new US version, which surfaced years ago. However, it was going to be as an executive producer rather than someone onscreen.)
At this point, we will just be happy for a new version of Luther coming on British television with Elba in the title role. There have been conflicting reports about whether or not this is something that will happen, so hopefully the time will come where there is some further information on that one way or another.
Are you disappointed about the fact that a Luther US version is not happening? Share now in the comments below. (Photo: Fox.)
NPRGAdmin 2015
March 9, 2017 @ 11:55 am
What a terribly cliched and racist excuse. Walden/FOX will not venture on such a project featuring a Black male lead unless he is the caliber of Elba? Media take chances on unproven, virtually unknown white males ALL the time. To say that a capable acting property cannot be found is a copout and it’s been used FOR YEARS not only in US entertainment but in executive and managerial searches. Furthermore, if Walden/FOX really wanted to give a US version a chance, they couldn’t easily apply a little creative license with the risk of an agreeable payout. For example, feature a younger actor than Elba in the role, thereby launching the possibility of attracting the magic demographic that the industry swears by with projects, casting, etc. An actor such as breakout Daniel Kaluuya or sizzling Anthony Welsh could easily fulfill such a venture. The prospect need not be someone who has been feted because, again, that’s not the case with white guys. I wonder if Walden/FOX are sacrificing integrity for politics, relying on growing nationalism on both sides of the Atlantic to quash possibility of a success without a PROVEN feature property. It’s really, really sad but again, we are talking about FOX. Hopefully, some other studio who is not about double standards, has creative vision and demonstrates smart venture risking will reconsider this project and prove Walden/FOX wrong.