Luther set for K-drama makeover
Details
Rebecca Hawkes
| 20 February 2018

South Korea's Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) is planning to air a local version of BBC hit crime drama Luther in October 2018, BBC Worldwide has announced.

Luther, which originally starred Idris Elba (pictured), has already been reversioned for Russia by production company Sreda, and was broadcast as Klim on Channel One in 2016.

In addition to a South Korean Luther, local versions of hit BBC series Mistresses and Life on Mars are also set to premiere on South Korean screens this year.

BBC Worldwide has licensed 2010 British TV series Mistresses (originally produced by Ecosse Films for BBC One), to Studio Dragon, the largest content provider in South Korea and part of the media and entertainment company CJ E&M. It will premiere on CJ E&M's channel OCN this April.

Retro detective series, Life on Mars (originally produced by Kudos for BBC One), will also have a South Korean version on CJ E&M's OCN channel. The local version will be set in Seoul in 1987 when the country was looking forward to its first ever democratic presidential election and to host the 1988 Olympics.

"BBC drama has always found a large audience in South Korea. Series such as Sherlock and Doctor Who have grown fan bases with their original and intelligent storytelling that the British are so well known for. I'm delighted that this love of British drama has now transcended into scripted formats - with South Korean versions of Mistresses, Life on Mars, and Luther starring Korean A-listers about to debut in 2018," said David Weiland, EVP Asia, BBC Worldwide.

The content deals were announced on at BBC Worldwide's annual Showcase event in Liverpool.