Lucifer | |
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Genre | |
Based on | |
Developed by | Tom Kapinos |
Starring | |
Theme music composer | Heavy Young Heathens |
Opening theme | "Being Evil Has a Price" |
Composers |
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Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 6 |
No. of episodes | 93 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Production locations |
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Cinematography |
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Editors |
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Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 42–65 minutes |
Production companies | |
Release | |
Original network | |
Original release | January 25, 2016 September 10, 2021 | –
Lucifer is an American urban fantasy television series developed by Tom Kapinos based on the DC Comics character created by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. The character was introduced in The Sandman comic book series and later became the protagonist of a spin-off comic series, both published by the DC Vertigo imprint. The television series premiered January 25, 2016, and concluded September 10, 2021, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer Television, DC Entertainment, and Warner Bros. Television.
The series revolves around Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), the version of the Devil in the DC Universe, who abandons Hell for Los Angeles where he runs his own nightclub named Lux and becomes a consultant to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD). The ensemble and supporting cast include Lauren German as Detective Chloe Decker, Kevin Alejandro as Detective Daniel "Dan" Espinoza, D. B. Woodside as Amenadiel, Lesley-Ann Brandt as Mazikeen, Rachael Harris as Dr. Linda Martin, and (beginning in season 2) Aimee Garcia as Ella Lopez. Filming took place primarily in Vancouver before production was relocated entirely to Los Angeles beginning with the third season.
The first season received mixed reviews from critics, and Fox canceled Lucifer after three seasons in May 2018. Netflix picked up the show one month later, and the series continued for a further three seasons, consistently earning high viewership for its tenure on the streaming platform.[3]
The series focuses on Lucifer Morningstar, a handsome, and powerful angel who was cast out of Heaven for his rebellion. As the Devil, Lucifer tires of the millennia he spent being the Lord of Hell, punishing people. Becoming increasingly bored and unhappy with his life in Hell, he abdicates his throne in defiance of his father (God) and abandons his kingdom for Los Angeles, where he runs his own nightclub called Lux.
When he finds himself involved in a murder investigation, he meets the intriguing Detective Chloe Decker. After helping the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) solve the case by using his power to manipulate humans into revealing their deepest desires, Lucifer accepts a subsequent invitation to work with Chloe as a consultant to the department, and throughout the series, they encounter all sorts of supernatural beings while solving crimes together and developing their relationship.
Main article: List of Lucifer characters |
Main article: List of Lucifer episodes |
Season | Episodes | Originally released | |||
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First released | Last released | Network | |||
1 | 13 | January 25, 2016 | April 25, 2016 | Fox | |
2 | 18 | September 19, 2016 | May 29, 2017 | ||
3[a] | 26 | October 2, 2017 | May 28, 2018 | ||
4 | 10 | May 8, 2019 | Netflix | ||
5 | 16 | 8 | August 21, 2020 | ||
8 | May 28, 2021 | ||||
6 | 10 | September 10, 2021 |
The second season premiered on September 19, 2016. Initially consisting of 13 episodes,[22] the series later received a 9-episode extension for a full 22-episode second-season pickup by Fox.[23] The third season, initially consisting of 22 episodes, premiered on October 2, 2017.[24][25] However, the final four episodes of the second season were removed and placed in the third season to air, resulting in the second season consisting of 18 episodes and the third season of 26.[26][27] Writer Chris Rafferty indicated that the third season would instead contain 24 episodes, and the extra 2 episodes would be held for the fourth season.[28]
On May 11, 2018, Fox canceled the series after three seasons, stating it was a "ratings-based decision". The 2 episodes being held for the fourth season were put as "bonus episodes" at the end of the third season;[29][30][31] they were broadcast on May 28, as a single two-hour bonus episode.[21]
On June 18, Netflix picked up the series for a fourth season of ten episodes, which was released on May 8, 2019.[32][33][34] Netflix renewed the series for a fifth (and originally final) season of sixteen episodes,[35][36] in two batches consisting of 8 episodes each.[37] The first 8 episodes were released on August 21, 2020,[38] and the second 8 episodes were released on May 28, 2021.[39] The series was later renewed for a sixth and final season of 10 episodes,[40][41] which was released on September 10, 2021.[42]
In September 2014, DC and Fox were developing a television series based on the Sandman character Lucifer, as originally written by Neil Gaiman.[43] The series is a "loose adaptation" of the original comic book.[44] In May 2015, the series was officially picked up for 13 episodes for the 2015–16 season.[45][46] Fox then hired Almost Human alum Joe Henderson as showrunner, with Kapinos remaining on the series in a lesser capacity.[47]
In an interview, actress Lesley-Ann Brandt stated that production for the fifth season was "99% finished", with production all completed except for half of the final episode before suspending production due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[48][49] Production resumed on September 24, 2020, to finish the final episode of the fifth season and begin production of the sixth season.[50][51]
In February 2015, Tom Ellis was cast as Lucifer Morningstar, while Tom Kapinos was attached to write the pilot, directed by Len Wiseman.[4] Approximately one month after, Lauren German was cast as LAPD-detective Chloe Decker.[52] Lina Esco was originally cast as Maze (Mazikeen),[53] but the role was later recast with Lesley-Ann Brandt.[9] Kevin Alejandro portrayed Dan.[54] The following year in June, Tricia Helfer was cast as Lucifer and Amenadiel's mother, Charlotte, and she was to appear in multiple episodes in the second season.[55] The character was promoted to series regular in July.[56] Aimee Garcia was also cast as a regular in the second season, playing L.A.P.D.'s forensic scientist Ella Lopez.[57] In August, Michael Imperioli was cast as angel Uriel, Amenadiel and Lucifer's younger brother with "a chip on his shoulder".[58] For the fourth season, Graham McTavish and Inbar Lavi were cast as Father Kinley and Eve respectively.[59][60] For season 5, Matthew Bohrer was cast as Donovan Glover, a character who appeared in only one episode.[61]
In 2020, Tom Ellis and other stars of the series were reported to have signed up for a sixth season.[62] However, a contract dispute led Ellis to not be officially signed on until late May.[63]
Although the pilot was shot on location in Los Angeles, the rest of the first season and the entirety of the second were filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, with some exterior filming in Los Angeles. Production relocated to California beginning with the third season,[64] taking advantage of tax incentives provided by the California Film Commission under its "Program 2.0" initiative[65] and spending $92.1 million on production.[66] Season four was also shot on location in Los Angeles, as well as at Warner Bros.' Burbank studio lot,[67] spending $35.8 million on production.[68]
The opening theme is a six-second clip from "Being Evil Has a Price", performed by the band Heavy Young Heathens.[69] In a lawsuit filed against Warner Bros., the song's composers, Robert and Aron Marderosian, claim the song has been used without giving them proper credit or a licensing agreement.[70]
Several episodes include musical performances by Tom Ellis, although he commented in interviews that while it is his vocals, the piano accompaniment seen on screen is not actually his.[71] Neil Gaiman is a fan of David Bowie, and some of Bowie's music has been used on the series (the illustration of Lucifer in the comics is also based on David Bowie).[72]
Simultaneously, with the release of Season 5 Part One in 2020, an official soundtrack was released by WaterTower Music, containing cast recordings from all then-released seasons.[73] In 2021 an additional soundtrack with all songs from the "musical" episode "Bloody Celestial Karaoke Jam" was published as well.[74]
Season | ||||
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DVD region 1 | DVD region 2 | DVD region 4 | ||
1 | August 23, 2016[75] | October 17, 2016[76] | October 19, 2016[77] | |
2 | August 22, 2017[78] | August 21, 2017[79] | August 23, 2017[80] | |
3 | August 28, 2018[81] | September 3, 2018[82] | August 29, 2018[83] | |
4 | May 12, 2020[81] | July 13, 2020[84] | May 20, 2020[85] | |
5 | May 31, 2022[86] | June 27, 2022[87] | June 15, 2022[88] | |
6 | September 13, 2022[89] | October 3, 2022[90] | TBA |
In its first three seasons, Lucifer aired in the United States on Fox, in 720p, high definition, and Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. The first and second seasons aired on Monday at 9 pm ET, before moving to the 8 pm time slot on Monday for the third season. Hulu owned the exclusive streaming rights in the United States, with each season released after its broadcast on Fox but moved over to Netflix in December 2018.[91][92]
CTV holds the broadcast rights for Canada.[93] In the United Kingdom it aired on the television channel FOX until the channel was cut prior to Season 4. Subsequently, Amazon Video holds first-run broadcasting rights, with each episode airing less than 24 hours after the US broadcast.[94] The series aired on FX in Australia[95] before moving to FOX8 during its third season when FX closed[96] and on TVNZ1 in New Zealand.[97]
Beginning on August 17, 2022, TNT aired the series.
Season | Timeslot (ET) | Episodes | First aired | Last aired | TV season | Viewership rank |
Avg. viewers (millions) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Viewers (millions) |
Date | Viewers (millions) | ||||||
1 | Monday 9:00 pm | 13 | January 25, 2016 | 7.16[98] | April 26, 2016 | 3.89[99] | 2015–16 | 62 | 7.17[100] |
2 | 18 | September 19, 2016 | 4.36[101] | May 29, 2017 | 3.31[102] | 2016–17 | 85 | 5.13[103] | |
3 | Monday 8:00 pm | 26[a] | October 2, 2017 | 3.92[104] | May 28, 2018[a] | 2.42[105] | 2017–18 | 119 | 4.16[106] |
Following the release of the second half of the fifth season on Netflix, Lucifer was near the top of Nielsen's streaming ratings, garnering 1.8 billion viewing minutes from May 31 to June 6, 2021.[107]
Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
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1 | 49% (43 reviews)[108] | 49 (24 reviews)[109] |
2 | 100% (9 reviews)[110] | — |
3 | 100% (7 reviews)[111] | — |
4 | 100% (9 reviews)[112] | — |
5 | 81% (27 reviews)[113] | — |
6 | 100% (13 reviews)[114] | — |
The pilot episode was screened in July at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con. The pilot was met positively by the viewers, with Bleeding Cool's Dan Wickline praising the episode, saying that "the show itself is enjoyable because of the great dialogue and flawless delivery from its lead" and "this version of Lucifer refuses to take almost anything seriously and the show is better for it".[115] Max Nicholson of IGN rated the pilot episode a 6.9/10, praising Tom Ellis's performance as Lucifer and the lighthearted tone of the series, but criticizing the series for essentially being another crime procedural series.[116]
The first season received mixed reviews. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports that 49% of critics gave it a positive review based on 43 reviews, with an average rating of 5.40 out of 10. The site's critics' consensus reads: "Lucifer's got sex appeal, but the show's hackneyed cop procedural format undermines a potentially entertaining premise".[108] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 49 out of 100 based on 24 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[109]
Critics were much more receptive to the rest of the series. The second season has 100% on Rotten Tomatoes based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 7.9 out of 10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Tom Ellis continues to shine as the Morning Star [sic], though perhaps he could fly higher if he weren't locked into such a familiar format".[110]
Ed Power of The Telegraph gave the second-season premiere a 4 out 5, stating that "it is entirely beguiled by its own preposterousness".[117] Bernard Boo of We Got This Covered gave the premiere 3.5 out of 5 stars, saying: "Lucifer's second season gets off to a nice start, building on the show's strengths while retaining some of the weaknesses. It remains an unapologetically sordid, demonically fun hour of TV".[118] LaToya Ferguson of The A.V. Club gave it a B grade, calling the episode funny with "genuinely funny moments to come from" and saying that the premiere "starts the season off on a good note". She praised Tom Ellis's performance calling it "pitch perfect".[119]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
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2016 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Breakout Show | Lucifer | Nominated | [120] |
Choice TV: Breakout Star | Tom Ellis (for Lucifer Morningstar) | Nominated | |||
2017 | Bisexual Representation Awards | Best Bisexual Representation by a Lead Character – Male | Tom Ellis (for Lucifer Morningstar) | Won | [121][122] |
Dragon Awards | Best Science Fiction or Fantasy Series | Lucifer | Nominated | [123] | |
People's Choice Awards | Favorite TV Crime Drama | Lucifer | Nominated | [124] | |
Saturn Awards | Best Fantasy Television Series | Lucifer | Nominated | [125] | |
2018 | Bisexual Representation Awards | Best Bisexual Representation by a Lead Character – Male | Tom Ellis (for Lucifer Morningstar) | Won | [126] |
Best Bisexual Representation by a TV Show | Lucifer | Won | |||
2021 | American Society of Cinematographers Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in an Episode of a One-Hour Television Series – Non-Commercial | Ken Glassing | Nominated | [127] |
Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actor in a Superhero Series | Tom Ellis (for Lucifer Morningstar) | Nominated | [128] | |
Best Superhero Series | Lucifer | Nominated | |||
Best Villain in a Series | Tom Ellis (for Michael Demiurgos) | Nominated | |||
Hollywood Critics Association Awards | Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Tom Ellis (for Lucifer Morningstar) | Nominated | [129] | |
Pop Culture Icon Award | Tom Ellis (for Lucifer Morningstar) | Won | [130] | ||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography (Scripted) | Lucifer | Nominated | [131] |
On May 28, 2015, the American Family Association (AFA) website One Million Moms launched a petition to prevent the series' airing. The petition stated that the series would "glorify Satan as a caring, likable person in human flesh".[132] The petition had 31,312 signatures by the series' premiere date.[133] Posted the same date on the main AFA website, the petition garnered 134,331 signatures by the premiere date.[134][135] In response to the petition, character creator Neil Gaiman commented on his Tumblr page:
Ah. It seems like only yesterday (but it was 1991) that the "Concerned Mothers of America" announced that they were boycotting The Sandman because it contained lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans characters. It was Wanda that upset them most: the idea of a trans-woman in a comic book... They told us they were organizing a boycott of The Sandman, which they would only stop if we wrote to the American Family Association and promised to reform. I wonder if they noticed it didn't work last time, either...[136]
Regardless of the campaign, Fox renewed the series in April 2016 for a second season.[137]
The campaign was referred to in a joke in the 2nd season episode "Sympathy for the Goddess". Lucifer is told he is in danger and asks "Is it the Yakuza? The Nephilim? One Million Moms?"
On May 11, 2018, following the series' initial cancellation, co-showrunner Joe Henderson indicated that the third-season finale would feature a "huge cliffhanger" that was meant to deter Fox from cancelling the series and encouraged fans to "make noise" with the hashtag #SaveLucifer.[138][139] Fans, as well as the cast and crew, rallied on Twitter and #SaveLucifer soon became the #1 trending topic.[140][141][142] A second hashtag, #PickUpLucifer, emerged as a trending topic as well.[143][144] An online petition also began circulating aimed at renewing Lucifer for a fourth season on a new network.[145] Warner Bros. Television subsequently began shopping the series around to premium cable and streaming services.[146][147][148] On June 15, Netflix picked up the series for a fourth season.[32] The penultimate episode of the fourth season is titled "Save Lucifer" in honor of the campaign.[149]
Main article: Crisis on Infinite Earths (Arrowverse) |
Lucifer Morningstar makes a cameo appearance in The CW's Arrowverse crossover event "Crisis on Infinite Earths", which is featured throughout the TV shows Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Batwoman, and Legends of Tomorrow.[150] The events of his cameo were five years before the events of Lucifer. The event also retroactively establishes the world of the series as Earth-666, confirms that Lucifer is aware of the multiverse, and elaborates how Mazikeen came to work for him (pre-Crisis) thanks to John Constantine. It is also revealed he has a history with Constantine as well.[151]