'Luther: The Fallen Sun' to Receive Limited Theatrical Release
Idris Elba as John Luther in Luther: The Fallen Sun
John Wilson/Netflix © 2023
When Netflix announced it was reviving the Luther franchise as a feature film, it seemed like the culmination of Idris Elba's campaign to continue the franchise that the BBC had put to bed. However, it appears that Netflix genuinely believes there's still life in the aging franchise more than just as easy to recognize streaming fodder, handing the film a streaming release date and one in theaters.
While the end of Season 5 concludes Luther's relationship with Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), other versions are thriving. The Hindu remake of the series Rudra: The Edge Of Darkness has been a massive hit internationally on Disney+'s Hotstar (the international equivalent of Hulu). The Russian, Korean and French versions have all debuted to varying interest levels. Putting Elba's return to the show that made him famous in theaters (albeit in limited release) seems like Netflix is betting there's a fanbase willing to shell out $20 to see it outside their living rooms.
Not too much interest, though. Much like Glass Onion and other Netflix movies, the new Luther film will not debut in wide release but will mostly stick to arthouse theaters in major metropolises. Most of America (and the U.K.) will have to wait for it to arrive on streaming — which will be two weeks later at the beginning of March.
Here's the Luther: The Fallen Sun synopsis:
In Luther: The Fallen Sun — an epic continuation of the award-winning television saga reimagined for film — a gruesome serial killer is terrorizing London while brilliant but disgraced detective John Luther sits behind bars. Haunted by his failure to capture the cyber psychopath who now taunts him, Luther decides to break out of prison to finish the job by any means necessary.
Elba returns once more to the Luther brown coat and red tie. He's joined by Cynthia Erivo (Wicked) as DI Odette Raine, who will be tracking Luther from the moment he escapes jail, Andy Serkis (Andor) as serial killer billionaire David Robey, and Dermot Crowley (The Wonder) as DSU Martin Schenk, the only other character who returns from the original TV series. Other co-stars include Hattie Morahan (Operation Mincemeat), Carl Spencer (Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical), and Lauryn Ajufo (The Last Bus).
Luther: The Fallen Sun will debut in limited release in select theaters on Friday, February 24, 2023. It will begin streaming on Netflix two weeks later, on Friday, March 10, 2023.
