BBC One has green-lit a new TV adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, from the former producers of Doctor Who...
BBC One is teaming up with New Line and former Doctor Who producers, Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter, to make an initial eight-part series adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy.
Where is the process at right now? Well, we've just heard from a very reliable source — Pullman himself — that the TV show is still very much in its planning stages, but that "things are moving steadily and well." He adds that it is "a very big project" and it "needs a great deal of planning." Hey, we say take all the time you need to get this right. We're still recovering from the heartbreak of that lackluster 2007 film adaptation.
In the mean time, here's everything we know so far about the new His Dark Materials TV show...
His Dark Materials TV Show Writers
Last November, Variety reported that the new His Dark Materials series will be produced in Wales, and marks the first commission from Gardner and Tranter's production company, Bad Wolf, as well as New Line's first foray into UK television.
The adaptation will be penned by Jack Thorne, the man behind the recent Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play, as well as The Fades, The Last Panthers, and theThis is England TV series. (Learn more about Thorne's previous work, here.) Sufficed to say, Thorne has experience successfully adapting other people's work in original and satisfying ways.
Thorne released a statement on what drew him to the adaptation that certainly gives fans of the book hope that the trilogy will be adapted in a way that capture the imagination and darkness of the stories better than the 2007 New Line effort did:
It is such an honor and a privilege to be given this opportunity to delve into Philip Pullman's world. What I always loved about Bad Wolf's intentions with this project was the notion of sounding every note. The His Dark Materials trilogy are vast and glorious books full of beautiful characters and I'm going to work as hard as I can to try and do justice to them.
Pullman's trilogy, comprising The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass, takes place in a universe of "daemons," polar-bear warriors, witches, magical instruments, and theological philosophy. It's previously been adapted for film, radio and theatre, but this will be the first TV version of the world of its singular hero, Lyra Belacqua.
Philip Pullman had this to say:
In recent years we've seen how long stories on television, whether adaptations (Game of Thrones) or original (The Sopranos, The Wire), can reach depths of characterization 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. I’m especially pleased at the involvement of Jane Tranter, whose experience, imagination, and drive are second to none. As for the BBC, it has no stronger supporter than me. I couldn't be more pleased with this news.
His Dark Materials TV Show Release Date
Producer Jane Tranter plans for pre-production on the series to start this autumn, but there is no current start date for the show. If things go as planned, we may be looking at a late-2017 air date for the new adaptation.
His Dark Materials TV Show Episode Guide
The first series will comprise eight episodes, with the expectation to continue into further series. In fact, a report from Walesonline states that: "The deal will see forty episodes shot across five series." This suggests that a multi-series deal has been reached to tell the entirety of Pullman's story. Sounds great to us.
His Dark Materials Synopsis
Here's the official His Dark Materials synopsis from the BBC...
His Dark Materials is one of the supreme works of imaginative fiction for both children and adults published in the 20th century. Northern Lights [The Golden Compass, in the U.S.] introduces Lyra, an orphan, who lives in a parallel universe in which science, theology and magic are entwined. Lyra's search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children, and turns into a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust.
In The Subtle Knife she is joined on her journey by Will, a boy who possesses a knife that can cut windows between worlds. As Lyra learns the truth about her parents and her prophesied destiny, the two young people are caught up in a war against celestial powers that ranges across many worlds and leads to a thrilling conclusion in The Amber Spyglass.
His Dark Materials TV Show Cast
There has been no official casting news as of yet, but Dakota Blue Richards, who played Lyra in the 2007 film, announced on Twitter that she "would so love to be part of" the new adaptation.
It seems worth noting that Richards had a starring role on Skins as Franky in the third generation, though Thorne wasn't on the writing staff at that time.
We'll keep this hub updated with all the new information on the His Dark Materials TV show as it becomes available.