Based on Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy, BBC One and HBO bring the series to life with Lin-Manuel Miranda, James McAvoy, and Dafne Keen starring.
The eight-part adaptation tells the story of Lyra, the young protagonist who lives in Jordan College, Oxford. Placed there at the request of her Uncle, Lord Asriel, she lives a sheltered life amongst the scholars and college staff while under the watchful protection of The Master and Librarian Scholar Charles.
When the glamorous and mesmeric Mrs Coulter enters Lyra’s life she embarks upon a dangerous journey of discovery from Oxford to London. Here she meets Father Macphail, Lord Boreal and journalist Adele Starminster at a glittering society party where she first hears about the sinister General Oblation Board.
Lyra is subsequently thrown into the nomadic world of the boat dwelling Gyptians – Ma Costa, Farder Coram, John Faa, Raymond Van Geritt, Jack Verhoeven and Benjamin de Ruyter who take her North in her quest. Once in the North she meets charismatic aeronaut and adventurer Lee Scoresby who joins them on their epic journey and who becomes one of Lyra’s closest allies.
Starring Dafne Keen (Logan) as Lyra, Ruth Wilson (Luther) as Mrs Coulter, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) as Lee Scoresby, James McAvoy (Split) as Lord Asriel, Clarke Peters (The Wire) as The Master of Jordan College, James Cosmo (Game of Thrones) as Farder Coram, Anne-Marie Duff (Shameless) as Ma Costa, Will Keen (The Crown) as Father McPhail, Ariyon Bakare (Good Omens) as Lord Boreal, Lucian Msamati (Luther) as John Faa, Ruta Gedmintas (The Strain) as Serafina Pekkala, and Ian Gelder (Game of Thrones) as Charles.
Since each individual has a dæmon, there is quite an extensive voice cast. Featuring the voices of Joe Tandberg (The Innocents) as Iorek Byrnison, the armoured bear that joins Lyra on her quest, Kit Connor (Rocketman)as Lyra’s dæmon Pantalaimon; Helen McCrory (Harry Potter) voices Stelmaria, Lord Asriel’s snow leopard dæmon; David Suchet (Poirot) is Kaisa, a gyrfalcon dæmon to witch Serafina Pekkala; comedian Cristela Alonzo as Lee Scoresby’s artic hare dæmon Hester; and Brian Fisher (Detective Pikachu) as Mrs Coulter’s golden monkey dæmon.
Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) will be adapting the novels for television, with the first two episodes directed by Oscar-winner Tom Hooper (HBO’s John Adams, The King’s Speech). Season 1’s other directors will be Dawn Shadforth, Otto Bathhurst, Euros Lyn, and Jamie Childs.
The series has already been renewed for a second season with eight episodes. Joining the cast for Season 2 are Amir Wilson (upcoming The Secret Garden remake) as Will Parry, Georgina Campbell (Murdered by my Boyfriend) as Adele Starminster, Omid Djalili (The Mummy) as Dr. Martin Lanselius, and Andrew Scott (Fleabag) as Jopari.
His Dark Materials premieres November 3rd on BBC One in the UK and November 4th on HBO in the U.S.
Should I also watch the film??