Bloodied and bruised Idris Elba wears knee pads for extra precaution as he staggers down the street while filming action-packed stunt scene for Luther

It was confirmed last summer that he was to resume the role of DCI John Luther in the much-loved BBC One series Luther.

And on Wednesday, Idris Elba was back on set in London filming for the role that has already bagged him a Golden Globe and SAG award.

Proving to be in the midst of an intense action scene, the 45-year-old British actor was pictured looking bloodied and bruised while also sporting knee pads under his jeans. 

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In action! Idris Elba, 45, was seen looking bloodied and bruised as he filmed for the next series of Luther in London on Wednesday

In action! Idris Elba, 45, was seen looking bloodied and bruised as he filmed for the next series of Luther in London on Wednesday

Idris, who is returning for four new episodes to portray the rough and ready, emotionally impulsive cop who breaks all the rules to get his man, was seen staggering down the street.

The hunk was seen with lacerations across his face, which was enhanced with gory red make-up and smudges across his white shirt.

Sporting a noticeable pair of knee pads under his jeans, Idris hinted at a major sequence of rough and tumble events while filming his own stunts for the day. 

His ensemble was completed with a pair of dirt stained blue denims, as well as a pair of lace-up black boots.

Dramatic: Proving to be in the midst of an intense action scene, the British actor was pictured looking bloodied and bruised while also sporting knee pads under his jeans

Dramatic: Proving to be in the midst of an intense action scene, the British actor was pictured looking bloodied and bruised while also sporting knee pads under his jeans

Camera rolling: Idris, who is returning for four new episodes to portray the rough and ready cop who breaks all the rules to get his man, was seen staggering down the street

Camera rolling: Idris, who is returning for four new episodes to portray the rough and ready cop who breaks all the rules to get his man, was seen staggering down the street

In the throes of his character, Idris looked visibly shaken as she clutched onto a coffee, laptop and pair of headphones. 

After battling a cannibal serial killer in the last series - which aired in December 2015 - Luther was last seen walking through his London stomping ground and into an uncertain future in the multi-award winning series.

Many questions were left unanswered including what really happened to his friend/foe, sociopath Alice Morgan. 

With John having to deal with the murder of his ex-wife Zoe and partner DS Justin Ripley along with the apparent loss of Alice it is unclear what fresh emotional torment the obsessive DCI will have to endure next. 

Intense: The hunk was seen with lacerations across his face, which was enhanced with gory red make-up and smudges across his white shirt

Intense: The hunk was seen with lacerations across his face, which was enhanced with gory red make-up and smudges across his white shirt

Action packed: Sporting a noticeable pair of knee pads under his jeans, Idris hinted at a major sequence of rough and tumble events while filming his own stunts for the day
Action packed: Sporting a noticeable pair of knee pads under his jeans, Idris hinted at a major sequence of rough and tumble events while filming his own stunts for the day

Action packed: Sporting a noticeable pair of knee pads under his jeans, Idris hinted at a major sequence of rough and tumble events while filming his own stunts for the day

Last week, Idris was seen filming with actress Ruth Wilson, whose character Alice Morgan, appeared to have died at the end of the last series.    

After series four had aired, Idris spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the show without Ruth's character and claimed it was possible for it to continue: 'The truth is, the show is called Luther. It's not called Alice, or The Bad Guys.

'It's about Luther and the people he comes across and the people he tries to bring down. I think that world still remains intact, but it takes on a slightly different spin.'

But he was quick to add that it wasn't necessarily the last time we'd see her: 'I'm not being deceptive or anything, but the truth is, John Luther isn't quite sure that she's dead!' 

The look: His ensemble was completed with a pair of dirt stained blue denims and a grey blazer 

The look: His ensemble was completed with a pair of dirt stained blue denims and a grey blazer 

He's back! It was confirmed last summer that he was to resume the role of DCI John Luther in the much-loved BBC One series Luther
He's back! It was confirmed last summer that he was to resume the role of DCI John Luther in the much-loved BBC One series Luther

He's back! It was confirmed last summer that he was to resume the role of DCI John Luther in the much-loved BBC One series Luther

Originally, series showrunner Neil Cross and Idris were looking to take the character to the big screen, but in June last year they revealed that they had decided on making a new series instead because there were so many unanswered questions.

Of the new episodes Neil said in a statement: 'It's a question Idris and I get asked a lot. What happened to John Luther after we last saw him striding unbowed through the streets of his city, his blood red London?

'It can't be over, can it? There's so much we don't know. So much unfinished business. The thing is, we've been asking ourselves the same question.

'It takes a slightly different spin': After series four had aired, Idris spoke about the show without Ruth's character and claimed it was possible for it to continue

'It takes a slightly different spin': After series four had aired, Idris spoke about the show without Ruth's character and claimed it was possible for it to continue

Critically acclaimed: The role has already bagged him a Golden Globe and SAG award

Critically acclaimed: The role has already bagged him a Golden Globe and SAG award

Of the new episodes showrunner Neil Cross said in a statement: 'It can't be over, can it? There's so much we don't know. So much unfinished business. The thing is, we've been asking ourselves the same question'

Of the new episodes showrunner Neil Cross said in a statement: 'It can't be over, can it? There's so much we don't know. So much unfinished business. The thing is, we've been asking ourselves the same question'

'In the end, we picked up the phone to some old friends and asked if they'd like to find out what happens next. It turns out, they would. So that's what we're going to do.' 

Idris also seems keen to return to the character, as he added: 'Neil, the BBC and I have been talking about a further season and I am thrilled that we have been able to bring it all together. I look forward to putting the coat back on.'

He also told Radio Times that the new series is 'classic' before adding that they were 'not reinventing the wheel' when it comes to the story.

The new series will feature a four-episode story, which hasn't happened since series three, and apart from Idris and Ruth it's not clear who else will return to the show. 

Long-awaited: The new series will feature a four-episode story, which hasn't happened since series three, and apart from Idris and Ruth it's not clear who else will return to the show

Long-awaited: The new series will feature a four-episode story, which hasn't happened since series three, and apart from Idris and Ruth it's not clear who else will return to the show

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