Fox Delays 'Luther' Remake

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The pilot order was contingent on finding a leading man and now will be developed off-cycle.

Fox is hitting pause on its Luther adaptation.

The network has opted to push the cast-contingent drama out of the busy pilot season, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The network originally picked up the drama — a remake of BBC's Emmy-nominated, Idris Elba starrer from creator Neil Cross — in November, handing out a rich put-pilot commitment. That was followed in January with a cast-contingent pilot pickup.

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Given the overwhelming demand for leads — sources tell THR that Fox was out briefly to Marlon Wayans to star — the network will wait until the crush of pilot season is over before resuming its search for a leading man. Diverse leads have been in particularly high demand this pilot season as the broadcast networks look to build upon the success of hits including Empire and How to Get Away With Murder.

Luther becomes the first project this season to be rolled out of the frenzy of pilot season. Last year, multiple pilots were pushed as the casting crush — which becomes even more harried given competition from cable, streaming as well as new scripted players — continued to intensify. CBS rolled The McCarthys from 2013 to last season where it scored a series order; the network pushed The Mistake to this development season, where it continues to remains uncast; and Taxi-22, previously developed for HBO, tapped John Leguizamo to star this season.

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Cross is writing and exec producing Fox's Luther take, which hails from 20th Century Fox Television, BBC Worldwide Productions' Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner, as well as Chernin Entertainment's Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope. Elba is attached as an exec producer.

jay83

They couldn't find one american actor for the lead? Marlon was the best they could find?

Or they tryna find a american version of Elba for the show?