Neil Cross

Neil Cross (born 9 February 1969) is a British novelist and scriptwriter.

Life

Cross was born in Bristol on 9 February 1969.^[1] He was lead scriptwriter for the sixth and seventh series of the BBC spy drama programme Spooks. He is also the creator and sole writer of the BBC crime thriller Luther, starring Idris Elba, which screens in more than 160 territories worldwide.

Cross writes for the screen in both Britain and the United States. Current or recent projects include a forthcoming, third series of Luther, two episodes of Doctor Who ("The Rings of Akhaten" and "Hide"), and Crossbones, an action adventure series for NBC. Cross wrote the 2013 film Mama. His current screenwriting projects include a new adaptation of Day of the Triffids for Sam Raimi, and Midnight Delivery, a drug smuggling film based on an idea by Guillermo del Toro.

He is the author of several novels including Always the Sun, which was long-listed for the Booker Prize, Burial and Captured, as well as the best-selling memoir Heartland, which was short-listed for the PEN/Ackerley Prize for literary autobiography of excellence. His most recent novel, Luther: The Calling, was published in 2011.

In 2011, Cross was included in Variety magazine's list of 10 Screenwriters to Watch.^[2] While working in England and Los Angeles, he continues to live in Wellington, New Zealand, with his wife and two sons.

Television writing

• Spooks (2002–2011)
• The Fixer (2008–2009)
• Luther (2010–2013)
• Whistle and I'll Come to You (2010)
• Doctor Who (episodes "The Rings of Akhaten" and "Hide", both 2013)
• Crossbones (upcoming)

Feature writing

• Mama (2013)
• Pacific Rim (2013; uncredited script doctor)
• The Day of the Triffids (in development)
• Midnight Delivery (in development)
• At The Mountains of Madness (in development)

Bibliography

• Mr In-Between (1998)
• Christendom (1999)
• Holloway Falls (2003)
• Always the Sun (2004)
• Heartland (a memoir) (2006)
• Natural History (2007)
• Burial (2009)
• Captured (2010)
• Luther: The Calling (2011)
• The Burning: A Luther Novel (expected December, 30 2013)

Awards and nominations

Luther Series 1

• Winner, Luther, Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best Teleplay in 2010 (Episode 1).
• Nominee, Luther, Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award for Best Teleplay in 2010 (Episode 4).
• Nominee, Idris Elba, Golden Globe Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television 2010.
• Nominee, Idris Elba, Primetime Emmy Award, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
• Winner, Idris Elba, NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Specials.
• Nominee, Luther, NAACP Image Award, Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special

Luther Series 2

• Nominee, Neil Cross, Primetime Emmy® Award 2012, Best Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special
• Nominee, Idris Elba, Primetime Emmy® Award 2012, Best Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie
• Nominee, Luther, Primetime Emmy® Award 2012, Best Miniseries or Movie
• Nominee, Sam Miller, Primetime Emmy® Award 2012, Best Director for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic special (Series 2)
• Winner, Idris Elba, Golden Globe® Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-series or Motion Picture Made for Television 2011
• Winner, Luther, Creative Diversity Network, Radio Times Drama award 2011
• Winner, Luther, Royal Television Society, Best Drama Series 2011
• Winner, Luther, Promax UK Awards, Best Drama Promo 2011
• Winner, Idris Elba, Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards, Best Actor Dagger 2011
• Nominee, Luther, Broadcast Television Journalists Association Critics' Choice Television Awards 2012, Best Movie/Miniseries
• Nominee, Idris Elba, Broadcast Television Journalists Association Critics' Choice Television Awards 2012, Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries

Books

• Winner, Luther: The Calling, Ngaio Marsh Best Crime Novel Award (NZ) 2012
• Longlisted, Luther: The Calling, Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award 2012
• Finalist, Captured, Ngaio Marsh Best Crime Novel Award (NZ) 2011
• Finalist, Burial, Ngaio Marsh Best Crime Novel Award (NZ) 2010
• Shortlisted, Heartland, PEN/Ackerley Prize for literary autobiography 2006
• Long-listed, Always the Sun, Man Booker Prize 2004

References

External links

• Official website
• Neil Cross at the Internet Movie Database
• Neil Cross profile on official Simon & Schuster website
• Cross, Neil (15–21 May 2004). "That difficult fourth novel". New Zealand Listener 193 (3340).  Check date values in: |date= (help)
• 'Neil Cross' entry in British Crime Writing: an encyclopedia, edited by Barry Forshaw