Idris Elba explores his famous TV role in greater depth

New film Luther: The Fallen Sun gave the British actor a chance to slow things down and really get to know the titular character

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LOS ANGELES - Idris Elba's career has spanned superhero films such as Thor (2011 to 2022), the first three seasons of acclaimed crime drama The Wire (2002 to 2008) and playing South African icon Nelson Mandela in the biopic Mandela: Long Walk To Freedom (2013).

But the 50-year-old says his role as John Luther, a brilliant police detective who flirts with the dark side as he hunts down serial killers and other sociopathic criminals, taps into something none of his other characters have.

The British actor reprises the role in the new movie Luther: The Fallen Sun, a continuation of the British psychological crime thriller Luther (2010 to 2019), which is streaming on Netflix.

The series introduced Elba as the titular detective chief inspector for London's Metropolitan Police who often crosses ethical lines as he investigates difficult and troubling cases a role that earned the star four Emmy nominations.

Speaking to The Straits Times over video chat, Elba says the character stands apart from every other that he has played.