Luther set for U.S. remake
The multi-award winning British drama Luther, created by Neil Cross and starring Idris Elba, is set for a U.S. remake. Although the original has already been broadcast stateside on BBC America, TV network Fox has commissioned a re-imagined pilot, which will be written/executive produced by Cross, with Idris Elba also on board as executive producer.
Fox will be hoping for more success from this acquisition, as its ‘re-imagining’ of British series Broadchurch, renamed Gracepoint, has so far produced disappointing viewing figures, despite keeping original star David Tennant.
Luther is the latest series this year to be commissioned as a remake for American audiences: Channel 4’s excellent Utopia was greenlit by HBO in February, with David Fincher set to direct and Gone Girl writer Gillian Flynn to write. Fincher has had past success remaking British television programmes of course, with the Kevin Spacey-fronted House of Cards proving hugely popular worldwide.
Although Fincher’s Utopia sounds promising, American adaptations of British television series such as Prime Suspect, Life on Mars, and Coupling, have had limited success in the past. Granted, there are success stories. The U.S. version of The Office was extremely popular, launching the career of Steve Carell, winning 5 Emmys, and lasting for 9 seasons, yet this is not the norm. It’s difficult to understand why networks want to remake or re-imagine British television, especially ones that have aired so recently such as Luther and Broadchurch, when the likes of Sherlock, Downton Abbey, and Doctor Who are incredibly well-loved stateside in their original form.
Perhaps the future for original, British programming in America is to be shown on Netflix. Recently, it has brought U.S. audiences The Fall, Peaky Blinders, and Happy Valley, with all three being met with critical acclaim.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter/ The Guardian
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