TV cop drama Luther set to return
Popular BBC TV detective drama, Luther, starring Idris Elba as troubled-genius London detective John Luther, will return for a four-episode fifth series. Production is set to begin early next year, though a broadcast date is yet to be announced. Elba is currently very much in demand in Hollywood and beyond. Recent big screenroles include star turns as Fluke in Finding Dory and Krall in Star Trek Beyond. In November, he will return as Heimdall, Guardian of Asgard, in Marvel's Thor: Ragnarok. A month before that, he will take the lead, alongside Kate Winslett, in director Hany Abu-Assad's international feature debut, The Mountain Between Us.
Lindsey Lohan signs up for UK TV comedy
Lindsey Lohan is reportedly now based in Dubai, but it looks like she has found a good excuse to get out of town and escape the worst of the summer heat. The American actress has signed up for season two of the TV comedy Sick Note. The makers, British broadcaster Sky, clearly have faith in the show – as the first season will not be broadcast until autumn. The series stars Harry Potter's Rupert Grint as Daniel Glass, a young man in a failing relationship and dead-end job, who is mistakenly diagnosed with a terminal illness by an incompetent doctor, played by Nick Frost (Spaced, Cuban Fury, Shaun of the Dead). When it emerges he is not going to die, he keeps this a secret as he enjoys the better treatment he has been getting. Miami Vice star Don Johnson plays his domineering boss, Kenny West, and Lohan will play West's daughter, Katerina.
The Mummy rises in China
Big-budget monster-movie reboot The Mummy has struggled to find an audience in the United States but Tom Cruise and the producers can take some comfort from an impressive opening week at the Chinese box office. The film made US$52.2million (Dh192m) there in its opening weekend, easily beating the critically acclaimed Wonder Woman's $38m the previous weekend. Both are dwarfed, however, by Aamir Khan's wrestling drama Dangal. Now in its sixth week in Chinese cinemas, it has made in a whopping $138m in China so far.
Captain America meets Jack Skellington
Brothers Anthony and Joe Russo – who directed Captain America: Civil War – are teaming up with The Nightmare Before Christmas co-director Henry Selick to adapt horror video game Little Nightmares for the small screen. In the game, players take on the role of Six, a 9-year-old girl battling to escape a horror-filled ship. The Russos are also in post-production on the Marvel epic Avengers: Infinity War, which will be released on May 4 next year. Their as-yet-unnamed new production company has also teamed up with Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan, the team behind bizarre indie breakout Swiss Army Man, for an unnamed Sci-Fi movie project.
cnewbould@thenational.ae