'Lucifer': Rush's Tom Ellis Cast in Title Role in Fox's Latest Comic Book TV Pilot Adaptation

FOX and DC Entertainment have announced that Tom Ellis, 36, best remembered for his role in Rush has bagged the lead role in the upcoming Lucifer TV series.

Ellis is set to be next seen on the small-screen as Lucifer Morningstar, described as "The Lord of Hell who is bored of his life, abdicates, and becomes a consultant at the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD)." He also opens an exclusive piano bar he named 'Lux' which he runs with the help of Mazikeen, or Maze for short, a female consort who is herself a powerful demon. According to Deadline, Lucifer "gets his kicks helping the LAPD punish criminals."

The role of Maze has been booked for Lina Esco who directed, co-wrote and co-starred in the 2014 feature Free The Nipple. Her TV credits include appearances in such shows as CSI, Drop Dead Diva, Cane, among others. She will also be seen next in HBO's Open.

Lucifer, the TV series, is written and executive produced by Tom Kapinos and DC Entertainment's sister company Warner Bros TV. It is a loosely based on the comic book character created by Neil Gaiman for The Sandman comic book series and its spin off series Lucifer written by Mike Carey, both published under the DC Comics' Vertigo label. In the comic books, the Lucifer character is drawn to very much look like David Bowie. A constant theme in the Lucifer series is the question of free-will. The Lucifer character is perpetually challenging the 'tyranny of predestination.'

Warner Bros TV is fast expanding its live-action DC TV universe. It now has four primetime TV series - Arrow, The Flash, Gotham and Constantine. In addition to Lucifer, it is also starting production on Supergirl. Its other pilot, Titans, is reportedly also near getting its own green light over at TNT.