Idris Elba Returns to Netflix as the True Heir to Sherlock Holmes
Luther is back on the case: a new Idris Elba-led film starts production in February 2026, with Neil Cross writing and Jamie Payne returning to direct, sending the brooding detective back to London to unravel a chilling new string of crimes.
John Luther is not done wrecking his coat on London pavements. After dragging the character onto the big screen with 2023's Netflix movie, a new Luther film is officially on the way — and it is aiming to shoot in February 2026. Yes, that far out. Plan accordingly.
What the next movie is
Neil Cross is back writing, Jamie Payne is back at the helm with the team, and Idris Elba is back in the signature trench. The story brings Luther home to London to chase a string of brutal murders in a city that, frankly, would prefer he stayed gone. So, you know, a normal week for him.
"Neil has yet again, created a wonderfully dark tale to bring us all back together. It’s a true joy to be back on the streets of Lutherland with the supreme talents that are Idris Elba and Dermot Crowley. I am also thrilled to be reunited with the brilliant and dangerous Alice Morgan played by the extraordinarily talented Ruth Wilson."
Who is returning
The big news on the character front: Ruth Wilson is back as Alice Morgan after sitting out Luther: The Fallen Sun. That is a major piece of the original BBC series finally slotted back in. Dermot Crowley returns as well, continuing Luther’s uneasy alliance with DSU Martin Schenk.
Why this timing makes sense
With Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes movies leaving Netflix, there is a detective-sized hole on the service. An Elba-led, hard-edged thriller could scratch that itch for anyone who wants their mysteries grimy instead of quippy. And yes, that is me gently nudging you to rewatch the show before cameras roll on the sequel.
How the franchise might grow
Cross has been pretty open about the world of Luther being bigger than one character’s next case. After five seasons and a movie, he is looking at where else this thing could go on screens big and small.
"But the world of Luther... I think, things are such now that it’s not just a character, it’s a world. If you’ve gone on long enough, there is a world to inhabit, and elements of that world can belong on the big or the small screen. So I wouldn’t be at all averse to something in the same universe, as it were, happening on telly."
Given that Netflix is steering other UK hits like Peaky Blinders toward new formats, more Luther — spin-offs, side stories, whatever shape it takes — feels less like a wild swing and more like the next logical step.
The quick stats
- Luther (series): IMDb 8.4; Rotten Tomatoes 88% critics / 89% audience
- Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023): IMDb 6.4; Rotten Tomatoes 67% critics / 85% audience
Where to watch and what to expect
Luther (the series) and Luther: The Fallen Sun are streaming on Netflix in the US right now. The new film is targeting a February 2026 production start, with Elba back in London chasing a killer and dodging enemies. No release date yet — just a heads-up that the hunt is back on, and this time Alice is in the mix again.