Luther Alum Neil Cross Sets Up Pre-Apocalyptic Drama Hard Sun At BBC One

Neil Cross, creative mind behind Idris Elba’s smash procedural Luther, has set up Hard Sun at BBC One, a six-part pre-apocalyptic drama.

Deadline has the scoop, reporting that the hatched project is situated in contemporary London when the English capital is teetering on the edge of armageddon. A pre-apocalyptic feature, essentially, and one which will revolve around two detectives attempting to enforce the law on a society that has all but given up the ghost.

Though it may read like science fiction on paper, Cross is quick to stress that the series will instead focus on how humanity comes to terms with a planet that has “been given its death sentence.” At the crux of Hard Sun are Elaine Renko and Robert Hicks, the pair of detectives will, much like any on-screen police pairing before them, have a love-hate parnternship.

Even still, it is the pre-apocalyptic premise that has us really intrigued about Cross’ latest, and here’s what the writer-director shared about his next creative venture.

“What’s it like, trying to keep order, trying to enforce the law in a city that, day by day, slips closer to certain destruction? How do you get up in the morning? How do you get out of bed and leave your family and go out there, putting your own life at risk? And what about the predators? What about the murderers, the rapists, the thieves? What about the psychopaths, the religious nuts, the cult leaders, the serial killers? Who among them would fear a prison sentence, in a world like this? Who among them would fear legal consequences? What does a life sentence even mean, anymore?”

Neil Cross’ Hard Sun isn’t expected to air on BBC One until some point in 2017, with filming and casting set to begin next year. Although, we won’t have to wait much longer before Cross’ other creation hits the small screen, with a three-hour Luther special pegged for December 17.