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Posts tagged as “BBC America”

BBC America Finally Sets Official Return Date for "Luther" (One-Night Special in December)

By goodblacknews on November 5, 2015
Idris Elba - Luther
Idris Elba – LUTHER Special

BBC America has finally the much-anticipated return date for “Luther” starring Idris Elba – a one-night 3-hour special event on Thursday, December 17, 9pm ET.
I would say that this puts it head-to-head with Shonda Rhimes night on ABC (“Scandal” at 9pm and “How to get Away With Murder” at 10pm); but both shows should be on by December 17, leaving “Luther” with likely little competition that night.
Here’s the story breakdown for those who haven’t kept up with the series, courtesy of the press release: Struggling to cope with his own demons after losing so much, it seemed normalcy would always elude the emotionally impulsive detective. Teflon tough, even the strongest couldn’t endure what Luther has seen and been through. Hunting London’s most depraved criminals forced him to tap into the dark recesses of his mind, revealing sides of himself that would horrify most. The heartbreaking loss of his wife to a brutal murderer and his inner-circle of colleagues turning on him in a witch hunt weren’t enough to keep him away from the job. But watching his most trusted colleague and friend, Detective Sergeant Justin Ripley, die in his arms after getting caught in the crossfires of a case, finally pushed him over the slippery slope he’s always towed. A forbidden connection with serial-killer, Alice Morgan, offered him a somewhat skewed version of a happy ending and he took it.
And here’s what’s coming in the December 17 special: This time we find Luther on a leave of absence from the police force, laying low in a rundown cottage. A visit from colleagues, Detective Chief Inspector Theo Bloom and Detective Sergeant Emma Lane, brings a shocking piece of news that draws him back to London in search of the truth. At the same time, a gruesome cannibalistic serial killer has struck the city, eating body parts as he goes. With a trail of clues leading from one crime scene to the next, Detective Superintendent Unit Martin Schenk and his team must work out the twisted logic that connects each victim. But this murdering mastermind is more than a match for Schenk’s police, outsmarting them at every step. It’s not long before Luther makes his triumphant return to the Bullpen, determined to capture the killer before another mutilated body joins the mounting pile.  But he’s dogged at every turn by ghosts from his past. Isolated and volatile, it will take every fiber of Luther’s being to keep it together.
“I think there were bigger challenges when he lost his wife and his best friend,” Elba says in a press statement. “That was a huge pinnacle and something that it took him a long time to get over. And in this [special] there is something similar that happens to him that is definitely traumatic. I think Luther goes back just because he can’t stay away from it for too long. Ultimately, because he’s a protector, [he] just wants to be able to fix what he can see other people won’t be able to…”
Idris Elba has garnered both Emmy and Golden Globe nominations for his role as DCI John Luther, with a Golden Globe win in 2013.
Written and created by Neil Cross and directed by Sam Miller, the “Luther” special also stars Laura Haddock as Megan Cantor, a mysterious woman from Luther’s past, John Heffernan as the sadistic cannibal Steven Rose, Patrick Malahide as George Cornelius, an old school gangster, and Michael Smiley returning as computer whiz Benny Silver.
article by Tambay A. Obenson via blogs.indiewire.com

The Perkins Brothers Represent the Motor City in Tonight's Premiere of New BBC Car Series, "Mud, Sweat & Gears"

By goodblacknews on January 26, 2015

(Photo Courtesy BBC America)
“Mud, Sweat & Gears” (Photo: BBC America)

Tonight, January 26th  at 10pm, the BBC rolls out its new super-charged series, Mud, Sweat & Gears… and boy, do they get it right.  This is a new breed of car show filled with cheeky humor, high-octane stunts, vehicle transformations and insane challenges… I promise, this show does not disappoint!
The first episode features two brothers from Detroit, Steve Perkins and Todd Perkins, competing against California racers Keith Kramer and Rob Krider. These contestants bring it! Guided by the quick–witted, charismatic hosts, Tom “Wookie” Ford & Jonny Smith, the teams have a limited amount of time to transform their base cars into challenge-themed machines.
The viewer is made part of the experience and you may even find yourself yelling, laughing, wincing and cheering as Mud, Sweat and Gears is a ride you won’t want to stop.
Full disclosure — I did work on this show and while I wouldn’t necessarily peg myself as a car show enthusiast… THIS show is so entertaining…it had me at engine START.  I highly recommend Mud, Sweat & Gears.
Here’s a special inside look: http://www.bbcamerica.com/mud-sweat-gears/videos/a-special-inside-look/
article by Lesa Lakin
 by Lesa Lakin

Idris Elba to Make "Luther" Return in 2015

By goodblacknews on November 20, 2014
“Luther” (BBC America) Emmys Writing and
The same week Fox touted the development of a U.S. adaptation of British crime series “Luther,” BBC America has announced that the original iteration of the drama will return for a two-part miniseries in 2015.
Starring Idris Elba as DCI John Luther, the murder detective whose brilliant mind can’t always save him from the dangerous violence of his passions, the new series is written by creator Neil Cross. “Luther” hails from BBC Drama Production and the new series will be co-produced with BBC America. Elizabeth Kilgarriff will oversee for BBC Drama.
In a statement on the BBC revival, Cross said, “Ever since we said goodbye to John Luther on Southwark Bridge, there’s hardly been a minute when I didn’t wonder what happened next. So I decided to find out. We’re putting the band back together; Luther is coming back where he belongs. Back to the BBC. Back to London. And back to work.”
The two hourlong episodes will film in and around London in March, and the show is slated for a late 2015 premiere.
The U.S. adaptation has received a put pilot commitment from Fox. Elba is attached to executive produce alongside Cross but is not currently expected to star.
article by Laura Prudom via Variety.com

Idris Elba's Coat-Clad Superhero Series "Luther" Premieres 3rd Season Tonight

By goodblacknews on September 3, 2013

Idris Elba as "Luther"
Idris Elba as “Luther”

He wears a heavy tweed coat instead of a cape and a steely, brooding façade instead of a dark cowl, but for Luther star Idris Elba, his British copper might as well be London’s own Batman. “In concept, we straddle between detective and superhero. Although there aren’t any magic tricks or capes or anything like that, we put our central character through improbable — and probable — scenarios that ask the audience to suspend their belief,” says Elba, the British actor who returns as Detective Chief Inspector John Luther for a third installment of the series running Tuesday through Friday (10 ET/PT nightly, except at 9 ET/PT Wednesday) on BBC America.
Over the course of a trio of seasons since 2010, Luther has dealt with masked serial killers, pedophiles, twin killers, snipers and the psychopathically endearing murderer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson), who’s gone from Luther’s arch-enemy to confidante.  That stuff is almost easiest for the grumpy lawman to deal with than other aspects of his life, like coming to grips with the death of his ex-wife and brandishing his own sense of justice that, while efficient, puts him at odds with most every other cop in town.
“He’s a spiritually wounded man, and one of the great malicious pleasures of writing for the character and this particular actor is what kind of hell can I put him through next?” says Luther creator and writer Neil Cross.