David Tennant reprises his part as Bryan Talbot’s Luther Arkwright for a further audio adaptation. 

Updated 07/09/23: Luther Arkwright: Heart of Empire is released today.

The highly anticipated audio adaption of Bryan Talbot’s Heart of Empire, starring David Tennant, is available to purchase from Big Finish.

The sequel to The Adventures of Luther Arkwright comes 18 years after the original’s release – not long before Tennant was announced as the Tenth Doctor. For this new story the cast have reunited, with the sad exception of the late Paul Darrow.

David Tennant said:

“There was always a vague ambition to perhaps return to this character. It takes a bit of bending of the brain to fully appreciate the worlds of Luther Arkwright but it’s definitely worth the effort.

“We’ve almost waiting long enough for the sequel to be in real time. Eighteen years is quite a long time ago. A lot’s happened in between. Another life.”

You can hear behind-the-scenes interviews and a 15 minute tease of Heart of Empire on the latest Big Finish podcast.

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright: Heart of Empire is available as a collector’s edition 2-disc CD box set (+ download) or on download only from Big Finish.

Updated 22/02/23: Big Finish reveal the cover art for The Adventures of Luther Arkwright: Heart of Empire.

Back in October, just after he became the Fourteenth Doctor, Big Finish revealed news of David Tennant’s return to another role. The actor will again play Luther Arkwright in an audio adaption of another of Bryan Talbot’s comic series.

Now, the producers reveal further details including an impressive Bryan Talbot cover, in keeping with the style of the first.

Heart of Empire, originally published in 1999, finds the legacy of Luther Arkwright (played once more by David Tennant) haunting his daughter Victoria (Georgina Hellier) as she embarks on a mission to uncover her family’s hidden secrets…

Part One: Daughter of Albion

Princess Victoria Arkwright never knew her father, a man whose shadow she has lived under since he saved the multiverse from the cataclysmic forces of the Disruptors. 23 years after she and her brother Henry were born in the flames of war, Victoria seeks answers, but the truth lies deep in shadow. As rebellion gains momentum against Queen Anne’s totalitarian rule, dark forces grow at the heart of the British Empire, forces that threaten all realities. The multiverse needs Luther Arkwright to save it once more, but Luther Arkwright is dead…

Part Two: Cataclysm

Victoria Arkwright is drawn towards destiny as she unravels the dangerous secrets that have remained hidden since her brother’s brutal murder. Prophecy says that reality will cease on her 23rd birthday – Victory Day – but with the help of Harry Fairfax and Rose Wylde, Victoria is determined to prevent the new apocalypse. To unlock her true self, Victoria must embrace painful realities and the enormity of the multiverse; only then will she discover the legacy of Luther Arkwright.

Writer Mark Wright, who has adapted the graphic novel for audio, said:

“The original adaptation of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright sits high on my list of cherished Big Finish projects – Bryan Talbot’s acclaimed graphic novel, meeting the legendary and much-missed Paul Darrow for the first time, and witnessing David Tennant’s star-making talent in front of the microphone.

“We’d always intended to adapt Bryan’s incredible sequel, and now, 18 years later, the stars and parallels have aligned to plunge us into the Heart of Empire. I’m thrilled that David has returned to the role of another dimension-hopping hero and to hear Siri O’Neal, Jez Fielder, India Fisher and Robert Jezek reprise their roles has been a joy.”

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright: Heart of Empire is out in June 2023.

It’s available to pre-order now as a collector’s edition CD box set (+ download), or on download only, from the Big Finish website.

Original article (of 24/10/22) follows…

Luther Arkwright – David Tennant returns to another role… after 18 years

The actor reprises his part as Bryan Talbot’s Luther Arkwright for a further audio adaptation. 

You could say that having David Tennant reprise his former roles is a fashionable idea right now. However, his latest return dates even further back than his Doctor.

Tennant led the cast of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright back in 2005. The audio drama adapted Bryan Talbot’s apocalyptic comic book series, itself published from 1978. 

Now, audio producers Big Finish just have announced a further boxset tackling the sequel Heart of Empire, first published in 1999. Set 23 years later, it centres on Luther Arkwright’s daughter Victoria.

Here’s the premise for Heart of Empire:

In a future alternate-reality Earth-one existence in a swirling maelstrom of parallel worlds – a vicious totalitarian British Empire reigns supreme. But in Rome, the dying Pope sets into motion a dark plan to place the throne of Britannica under papal control – by any means necessary.

And while such temporal machinations threaten the world’s political and social stability, a monstrous force is building across the multiverse, and a countdown begins to almost certain dimensional apocalypse!

Luther Arkwright has saved a universe before, but with an infinity of universes threatened with annihilation, all of Arkwright’s preternatural talents are needed. If only Arkwright weren’t dead…

The Cast

With David Tennant, the release also reunites members India Fisher, Siri O’Neal, Robert Jezek and Jez Fielder. Emily Haigh, Georgina Hellier and Ahmed Hamad also join the cast as new characters.

Speaking of his return to the role, David Tennant said:

“Luther Arkwright was introduced to me by Big Finish with the script of the first instalment. When I read it, I was captivated. There’s something very hypnotic about the world that Bryan Talbot creates. It was hugely appealing! What a treat that we’ve gotten to revisit this world and these characters.” 

The production has the approval of the character’s creator too, as Brian Talbot added:

“After their great adaptation of The Adventures of Luther Arkwright, I can’t wait to hear Big Finish’s production of the second story, Heart of Empire. I’m especially pleased that David Tennant is reprising his role as Luther Arkwright.”

For audio, Mark Wright has adapted the story into two parts, ‘Daughter of Albion’ and ‘Cataclysm’. The directors are Jason Haigh-Ellery and Scott Handcock, and the producer Heather Challands.

The Adventures of Luther Arkwright: Heart of Empire is out in June 2023. It’s available to pre-order now as a collector’s edition CD box set (+ download), or on download only, from the Big Finish website.