Tom Ellis Lands Leading Role In Fox’s Lucifer Pilot

Fox’s Lucifer pilot has bagged its horned antihero in the shape of Welsh actor, Tom Ellis. Known for his extensive television work in the UK, Ellis made waves in a variety of popular British shows including No Angels, Merlin, Rush and Miranda. He will soon be packing his bags for the sunny climes of Los Angeles as he prepares for his latest small screen performance as king of hell, Lucifer Morningstar.

Late last year, when the show was granted an initial pilot commitment, it was expected that it would stick closely to the comic series. Created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Keith and Mike Dringenberg, the original DC Comics-run centers on Lucifer who, “bored and unhappy as the Lord of Hell, resigns his throne and abandons his kingdom for the gorgeous, shimmering insanity of Los Angeles, where he opens an exclusive piano bar called Lux.”

However, along with the recent news that Fox had picked up the show for a proper pilot order, it was explained that that source material-loyalty was gone. Still based around the same core character, it’s now expected to play out as a police procedural (groan) with Lucifer assisting the LAPD on various cases.

All is not lost, however, as the show is written by Californication creator Tom Kapinos, who wrung every drop of debauchery out of Hank Moody for seven brilliant seasons. Lucifer will be directed by Underworld‘s Len Wiseman for Warner Bros. TV and Jerry Bruckheimer TV, and its arrival is eagerly-anticipated should the pilot fare well with the network.