DCI John Luther has cracked quite a few cases, but Luther: The Fallen Sun is his biggest yet — a bold, cinematic new entry in the detective’s files. For fans of the original series, seeing the grizzled copper again is a dream come true, but the film isn’t only for Luther true believers. “We’re a loyal bunch, and respecting the existing fans was essential to us,” Luther creator and Fallen Sun screenwriter Neil Cross tells Tudum. “But we’re also a welcoming bunch. So it was just as important for there to be no cost of entry for new viewers.”
In other words: While the film includes plenty of nods to Luther’s past for experienced Luther watchers to pick up on, previous viewing is not a requirement. And Luther himself isn’t a difficult character to grasp. “I think John’s just John, right?” Idris Elba says of the title character he portrays. “This film, whether you know John or not, has a start, a middle and an end and you get thrown into it.” Those who saw the detective head to prison at the end of Luther Season 5 will find resolution; new viewers will meet a man who’s teetering on the edge from the get-go.
Luther inspects the scene.
Perfecting the film’s tricky balance was a lengthy process for Cross. “I’d try something, see what worked, then try something else,” he says. “[Director] Jamie (Payne) and I were tweaking the balance until the very end. As is sometimes the case with writing a novel, the first scenes were the last to be finished.”
Of course, there’s nothing stopping viewers of Luther: The Fallen Sun from taking that same journey in reverse. “I guess you’ll decide to go back and be like, 'What happened? What have I missed?'” Elba says.
But even if you never catch up with Luther’s older adventures, the hook here is as simple as can be. “Ultimately, it’s a thriller,” Elba says. “He’s a good guy that likes to chase bad guys in bad ways. That’s basically it.”
Luther: The Fallen Sun hits Netflix on March 10.
