Idris Elba 'thrilled' to reprise 'Luther' role for fifth season

(WENN) — Idris Elba is to reprise his role of detective "Luther" for a fifth season of the much-loved crime series.

The 44-year-old actor last played DCI John Luther in a comedy sketch for U.K. charity drive Sport Relief last March, although the character's last official outing was in December 2015.

But now fans of the gritty crime series can breathe a sigh of relief, with the news that the program will be returning to screens for a new "utterly heart-stopping and unmissable" four-part season.

Referencing his alter-ego's famous tweed coat, Elba said in a statement: "Neil (Cross, co-creator and writer), the BBC and I have been talking about a further season and I am thrilled that we have been able to bring it all together.

"I look forward to putting the coat back on."

While the fourth season was well received by fans and critics alike, it left a lot of questions unanswered. But Cross is hoping that these new episodes will help tie up any loose ends.

"It's a question Idris and I get asked a lot. What happened to John Luther after we last saw him striding unbowed through the streets of his city, his blood red London?" Cross said.

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"It can't be over, can it? There's so much we don't know. So much unfinished business. The thing is, we've been asking ourselves the same question.

"In the end, we picked up the phone to some old friends and asked if they'd like to find out what happens next. It turns out, they would. So that's what we're going to do. We're going to find out what happens next."

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Filming for the new season will begin next year, and the episodes will also broadcast on BBC America.