Epic fantasy novels coming to BBC1 in November
The BBC has revealed that a new series based on Phillip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy will premiere on Sunday 3rd November.
The eight-part adaptation tells the story of Lyra, who lives in a parallel universe in which science, theology and magic are entwined.
The orphaned child (Logan’s Dafne Keen) lives a sheltered life in Oxford where she’s been placed at the request of her Uncle, Lord Asriel (X-Men’s James McAvoy).
She is under the watchful protection of The Master of Jordan College (The Wire’s Clarke Peters), however, when the glamorous Mrs Coulter (Luther star Ruth Wilson) enters her life, Lyra finds herself embarking on a dangerous journey of discovery.
During her quest she meets the charismatic adventurer Lee Scoresby (Broadway star Lin-Manuel Miranda), who becomes one of her closet allies.
Lyra’s adventure sees her encounter dangerous villains and even giant polar bears as she tries to discover more about a strange phenomenon called Dust. Can she ever find her friend Roger?
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Talking about the adaptation of His Dark Materials stories previously, Phillip Pullman said: “It’s been a constant source of pleasure to me to see this story adapted to different forms and presented in different media.
“It’s been a radio play, a stage play, a film, an audiobook, a graphic novel - and now comes this version for television.
"In recent years we’ve seen the way that long stories on television, whether adaptations (Game Of Thrones) or original (The Sopranos, The Wire), can reach depths of characterisation and heights of suspense by taking the time for events to make their proper impact and for consequences to unravel.
"And the sheer talent now working in the world of long-form television is formidable. For all those reasons I’m delighted at the prospect of a television version of His Dark Materials.”
Other key cast include Anne-Marie Duff as Ma Costa and James Cosmo as Farder Coram.
His Dark Materials will be on BBC1 and available on BBCiPlayer from Sunday 3rd November.
