Creator Neil Cross Talks "Luther" Film And Idris Elba With Variety

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• robg | December 5, 2011 2:27 PMReply

  "I wish there was a way to bring the same version to the U.S...with a Black wife..." - These things cannot happen. A complex Black man detective character? The US hasn't see that guy since the Shaft TV series on CBS (1973-1974). You're more likely to find a well-characterized Black woman as the wife of a white man. If both parts of the couple were Black, American writers couldn't resist redoing Cosby Show bits. If Luther comes, it'll be white dude as Luther, Black guy as stuffy Police Lieutenant, Asian/Hispanic (brown, not Black) sidekick, and blonde-haired, white girlfriend/ex-wife. That's how WE do.

• Jug | December 5, 2011 12:13 PMReply

  I hate to even bring it up, but I wonder if the role was written originally Black, or did Idris come in & nail it? Just curious, as there is zero mention (or need to) about his ethnicity in the show.

• ANON | February 25, 2012 5:21 PM

  as i said on the octavia spencer and viola davis/ tavis post the role was NOT role specificAKA WHITE! we rarely do race specifiC roles in u.k as their just aren't enough black people let alone black actors to justify it.

• Jug | December 5, 2011 1:49 PM

  See, that's good to know Tambay, and a little confusing at the same time. Because the comments we've heard before are that the opportunities for Black actors are scarce in the UK. Now, I'm watching more & more BBC America, which admittedly is mostly sci-fi stuff, but I see many more leads of shows & mini-series in the UK that are Black, where the race of the character is not an issue or the focus of his story arc. In America, a character's race is often the only reason the character's on the show-the dash of color-or his storyline is centered around his color (only Black on the team, racism, rapper, etc). But according to comments from Lennie James & others, the work is sparce in the UK. I'm wondering, is it the "grass is always greener" because the roles they may want, based on their skill level, are always going to be white, like period pieces (DOWNTOWN ABBEY, PERSUASION, CRANFORD) or is it that the REAL money for your work & time is in the U.S.? Guess I'm just reading between the lines huh? LOL Really doesn't matter tho, I like LUTHER.

• Tambay | December 5, 2011 12:52 PM

  I'm about 85% sure the character wasn't originally written as a black man. If I remember correctly, Idris found Cross', not the other way around; Cross already had the project penned, with the character fully realized on the page; and I believe the character was *colorless.*
  
  Idris was looking for something interesting and daring to do with the BBC, came across Cross' work, loved it, and got the BBC to buy him as the lead.

• MOST ESTEEMED | December 5, 2011 12:29 PM

  I'd LOVE to know the answer to that too. I wish there was a way to bring the same version to the U.S. with a different guy..except with a black wife. Maybe a young Dennis Haysbert type.