SciFiAndTvTalk

The Wire's Idris Elba Comes To BBC America

Idris Elba as John Luther. Photo copyright of the BBC.

BBC America has announced its latest U.S. premiere co-production, Luther, starring Idris Elba (The Wire), a smart, six-part psychological thriller that takes a bold look at the crime genre.

Best known for his performance as drug kingpin Russell "Stringer" Bell in HBO's The Wire, Idris Elba now finds himself on the other side of the law. He plays John Luther, an intellectually brilliant but emotionally impulsive murder detective. He considers his profession a vocation rather than a job and it remains to be seen if he's a force for good or a man hell-bent on self-destruction. His confidante is also his archenemy, Alice (Ruth Wilson), a beautiful, multiple-murderess who evades his grasp early on, and with whom he becomes locked in a lethal battle of wits.

Luther is created and written by acclaimed suspense novelist, and one of the lead writers on Spooks (a.k.a. MI-5), Neil Cross, who says, "I'm delighted that the BBC has brought Luther to life. It's an intense psychological thriller which examines not only human depravity but the complex nature of love...and how it's often this, our finest attribute, that leads us into darkness."

Elba, who also serves as associate producer on the project, is joined by an all-star cast: Ruth Wilson (The Prisoner, Jane Eyre) plays Alice Morgan, beautiful, extraordinarily intelligent and a key witness in Luther's first investigation; Steven Mackintosh (Criminal Justice) is Detective Chief Inspector Ian Reed and Luther's loyal friend and work colleague; Indira Varma (Rome) is Zoe Luther, who's had the strength to walk away from the man she still loves; Paul McGann (Withnail and I, Doctor Who) is Mark North, unafraid to compete with Luther for Zoe's love; Saskia Reeves (Bodies, Blue Murder) is Detective Superintendent Rose Teller, Luther's risk-taking boss, and Warren Brown (Occupation) is Detective Sergeant Justin Ripley, Luther's loyal, awestruck new partner.

Co-produced and distributed by BBC Worldwide, Luther will air later this year on BBC America.

As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!

Torchwood Returns!

Jack's back! John Barrowman is set to reprise his role of Captain Jack Harkness in a new series of Torchwood. Photo copyright of the BBC.

STARZ Entertainment has acquired U.S. television rights to the next installment of the BBC’s audience sensation Torchwood, developed and produced by BBC Worldwide Productions. Starz will debut the 10-episode series exclusively in the U.S., and BBC One will debut it in the U.K., both in summer, 2011. This is a co-production between Starz, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Worldwide, and BBC Worldwide will distribute the show outside the U.S. The deal was jointly announced today by Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht and BBC Worldwide Productions EVP Jane Tranter.

The stars of the previous versions of Torchwood, notably John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) and Eve Myles (Gwen Cooper), will return for the new version. Additional key cast, reflecting the more international scope of the series, will be announced soon.

Torchwood is a drama that puts extraterrestrial threats into a very real world, and asks how humanity deals with the danger - while fighting humankind’s darkest instincts. The series’ previous three seasons aired on BBC America in the U.S. and garnered record-breaking ratings for the network. Created by visionary writer/producer Russell T Davies, Torchwood has to date been located primarily in Cardiff, Wales. The new series will allow Davies and his writing team to tell a more explosive and global story, one that takes advantage of the unlimited narrative opportunities of a premium television service like Starz. Davies and BBC Worldwide Productions’ SVP Scripted Julie Gardner return as executive producers, with Davies also serving as show-runner for the new  Torchwood.

“We’re committed to programming exceptional television that is entertaining, imaginative and provides a premium TV experience, and by any measure the new concept for Torchwood fits that mandate,” Starz, LLC, President and CEO Chris Albrecht said. “I’ve been part of successful partnerships with Jane Tranter and the BBC previously, and I’m very much looking forward to working with them again.”

"Torchwood has attracted remarkable attention and loyalty in both the UK and U.S., and in this new partnership with Starz, the next chapter will not only reward our current fans, but also introduce new viewers to the most impressive installment yet,” said Jane Tranter, EVP, BBC Worldwide Productions. “Chris Albrecht and his team are committed to delivering quality premium programming to their subscribers, also a core attribute of the BBC, and we are excited to be working with them as the Torchwood adventure continues.”

“Russell, Jane and Julie came to us with a compelling vision for the evolution of the Torchwood saga that really takes the story into whole new areas,” added Carmi Zlotnik, Managing Director of Starz Media – the production and development division of Starz. “The compelling story and characters this trio created provide a strong template for driving this narrative in exciting ways.”  Ben Stephenson, Controller, BBC Drama Commissioning said: "We have a long history of working with many U.S. networks, but it is incredibly exciting to be working with Starz for the first time, as well as to be reunited with the best of British in Russell, Jane and Julie.Torchwood will burst back onto the screen with a shocking and moving story with global stakes and locations that will make it feel bigger and bolder than ever."

Torchwood is the latest piece of notable programming from Starz. It follows on the heels of the recently concluded first season of the epic Spartacus: Blood and Sand, this summer’s highly anticipated event  series “The Pillars of the Earth, based on author Ken Follett’s international bestseller, and the recently announced series Camelot, which Starz is co-producing with GK-TV and will air early in 2011.

Torchwood originally debuted in the UK on BBC One in 2006. All five episodes of Torchwood: Children of Earth reached the Top 10 list in TV Episodes across the entire iTunes TV Store, with episode 1 of the series reaching the top spot the week of launch in August, 2009.

As noted above, photo copyright of the BBC, so please no unauthorized copying or duplicating of any kind. Thanks!