Idris Elba reveals start date for filming of new Luther movie: ‘It’s been a long time coming’

Production on the upcoming Luther movie is to crank into action in September, according to Idris Elba.

The actor and executive producer, 48, is looking forward to getting to work on the popular feature-length project based on BBC series.

He told Variety: ‘We go into production, fingers crossed, in September. I’m so excited about it, it’s been a long time coming.

‘We’re very, very close to pulling the green light on production.’

The BBC show first aired in 2010 and has so far run for five seasons with Idris as detective John Luther.

The star has won two Golden Globes and a Royal Television Society best actor award for his performance.

Comments about the programme caused controversy last month when the BBC’s creative diversity chief Miranda Wayland claimed the character Luther lacks ‘authenticity’.

She said his lack of black friends and the fact he ‘doesn’t eat Caribbean food’ made him unrealistic.

Miranda said at this year’s MIPTV conference: ‘When it first came out everybody loved the fact that Idris Elba was in there – a really strong, black character lead.

‘We all fell in love with him. Who didn’t, right? But after you got into, about the second series, you kind of got like, OK, he doesn’t have any black friends, he doesn’t eat any Caribbean food, this doesn’t feel authentic.’

Idris appeared to address the controversy with a quote on his Instagram story, reading: ‘We must not pull ourselves backwards, only push ourselves forward. IE.’

A BBC spokesperson told Metro.co.uk at the time: ‘Luther is a multi-award winning crime drama series and the iconic role of DCI John Luther has become one of TV’s most powerful detective characters of which we are tremendously proud.

‘The BBC is committed to its continued investment in diversity and recent BBC dramas I May Destroy You and Small Axe are testament to that.’

They added: ‘Of course people can have open discussions about our shows but that doesn’t mean it’s a statement of policy.’

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