Idris Elba and Ruth Wilson are reuniting for a brand new Luther film at Netflix

New murders. Old enemies. Luther’s back

Luther from the show Luther on Netflix standing in an alley
(Image credit: Netflix)

DCI John Luther is officially back on the case. Netflix has confirmed a brand-new Luther film is in the works, reuniting Idris Elba with Ruth Wilson and Dermot Crowley for another dark, blood-soaked chapter in one of Britain’s most beloved crime dramas.

The news was revealed by Netflix on X, with the streamer posting: “Luther, Alice and Schenk are BACK.” The film will see Elba reprise his role as the obsessive detective, Wilson return as the brilliant and dangerous Alice Morgan, and Crowley step back in as Luther’s long-time ally, Martin Schenk. Series creator Neil Cross and director Jamie Payne, both Luther veterans, are also returning, with filming set to begin in February 2026.

The story will pick up with Luther being “secretly called back into service amidst a new wave of brutal, seemingly random murders.” The twist? Everyone seems to want him dead. Which, knowing Luther’s track record for burning bridges, feels about right.

The new film marks Wilson’s first appearance in the franchise since her character’s apparent death at the end of season five. She was absent from 2023’s Luther: The Fallen Sun, which continued the story on Netflix and co-starred Andy Serkis and Cynthia Erivo. Fans have long called for Alice’s return, and it seems Cross couldn’t resist bringing back the show’s most magnetic pairing.

“Luther, Alice and Schenk are more than characters to me — they’re family,” said Cross. “I never stop wondering where they are, what’s become of them … and what horrors might be stirring in the shadows of London while Luther’s not around. So we decided to get together and find out what happens next.”

Since debuting on the BBC in 2010, Luther has become one of the UK’s most defining crime series, a brooding, stylish and often brutal look at justice and obsession, anchored by Elba’s towering performance. The show ran for five series, won multiple BAFTAs, and turned Luther into one of TV’s most iconic antiheroes.

No release date has been confirmed yet, but according to The Hollywood Reporter, production kicks off next year. Until then, shine your shoes and ready your trench coat — London’s darkest detective is coming home.


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Morgan Truder
Staff Writer

Morgan got his start in writing by talking about his passion for gaming. He worked for sites like VideoGamer and GGRecon, knocking out guides, writing news, and conducting interviews before a brief stint as RealSport101's Managing Editor. He then went on to freelance for Radio Times before joining Shortlist as a staff writer. Morgan is still passionate about gaming and keeping up with the latest trends, but he also loves exploring his other interests, including grimy bars, soppy films, and wavey garms. All of which will undoubtedly come up at some point over a pint.

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