A hotly-anticipated film starring Idris Elba is set to be released after being filmed at a Dorchester landmark.

Idris Elba stars as John Luther in Luther: The Fallen Sun in the new film which will be available to watch on Netflix on Friday, March 10.

Elba's character - a brilliant but disgraced London police detective - is haunted by an unsolved murder and breaks out of prison to catch a serial killer.

The film - which runs for two hours and nine minutes - made its debut on the cinema screens last month before heading to the streaming platform.

The plot sees Andy Serkis portraying David Robey, a billionaire who uses surveillance technology to manipulate and kill his victims.

When viewers catch up with Luther, he's behind bars, haunted by the fact he has been unable to prevent Robey's crimes.

But when he strikes again, the detective stages a prison break so he can hunt the villain down.

The film also stars Cynthia Erivo, Andy Serkis and Dermot Crowley, who returns as Martin Schenk.

Eagle-eyed viewers may spot some of the scenery whilst watching Luther: The Fallen Sun - with all of the prison scenes filmed at Dorchester Prison, which closed in 2013 and is now a visitor attraction and offers tours.

The prison received adult male and young adult male prisoners direct from the Crown Courts at Dorchester, Poole and Bournemouth and associated magistrates’ courts. 

James Seale was the last person to be hung at the gates of Dorchester prison in August 1858 after being found guilty of murder.

Film crews were spotted outside the prison last year as much speculation began over what was being filmed inside the building, which was built in 1795.

The prison confirmed that all of the prison scenes in the Luther film were shot in the county town.

The original BBC crime thriller series Luther - which starred Elba alongside Ruth Wilson, who played Alice Morgan - ended in 2019.

Netflix has confirmed that Wilson will not be featuring in this new feature-length case.