BBC America joins Luther

US cablenet BBC America has come onboard gritty British drama miniseries Luther, which stars The Wire’s Idris Elba.

Following Elba’s best actor win in the US at the NCAAP Awards on Friday for his role as the unstable genius detective, BBC America has joined as Luther coproducer on the second season. The channel has already broadcast the first, debuting it in October last year.

The second run (2×60′) of the BBC1 drama, currently in post-production, sees Luther dealing with the aftermath of his wife’s murder by cracking crimes as part of a new Serious and Serial Unit.

“It’s great to be involved once again with such a critically-acclaimed series and to have Idris back on BBC America in this iconic role,” said Perry Simon, BBC Worldwide America general manager for channels.

“He fully deserves the prestigious awards and accolades he’s received for playing this dark and deeply disturbed character. With an even more intense storyline awaiting him, Idris will take Luther to a whole new level.”

Novelist Neil Cross created the series.