S&S signs "Luther" spin-offs

Neil Cross, author and creator of BBC1's crime series "Luther" is to write three spin-off novels for Simon & Schuster.

Senior commissioning editor Francesca Main acquired UK and Commonwealth rights from Gordon Wise at Curtis Brown.

The first of the three novels will be a prequel to the TV series, revealing the story behind the case that drove Luther to the edge, destroyed his marriage and nearly cost him his job. It will be titled Luther: The Calling; the other titles are tbc.

Main said: "These novels will feature characters from the Luther TV series and develop interrelated plot-lines from the show, yet they will also be high-quality standalones in their own right, packed with the darkness, suspense and emotional punch that have characterised Neil’s recent novels Burial and Captured.

"It’s an extremely exciting new direction for Neil and for our publishing of him."

The first series of "Luther", starring Idris Elba, aired on BBC1 in May 2010. It has since been syndicated in over 10 territories. At an Edinburgh Television Festival event yesterday [30th August], BBC One Controller Jay Hunt announced that "Luther" will return in 2011, with two two-hour specials.

S&S is planning a "major" hardback launch of the first Luther novel in August 2011. The publisher will continue to publish Cross' non-Luther novels.