BBC and HBO’s new series His Dark Materials has set an official November release date. Based on the young adult book series of the same name by British author Philip Pulman, the fantasy epic follows a young girl named Lyra Belacqua who sets out on a journey to find her best friend who has mysteriously gone missing in the midst of a series of child abductions. The story is set in a world that strikingly resembles the UK’s Victorian-era but, unlike our world, people’s souls exist outside of their bodies as creatures called dæmons. These creatures are brought into existence when a person is born and remains their companion as they mature, settling on a final form once they reach adulthood.
The series has rounded out a phenomenal cast that includes Dafne Keen (Logan) as Lyra, Lin-Manuel Miranda (Mary Poppins Returns) as Lee Scoresby, James McAvoy (IT Chapter Two) as Lord Asriel, Amir Wilson (The Kid Who Would Be King) as Will Parry, Ruth Wilson (Luther) as Mrs. Coulter, and more recently Fleabag’s Andrew Scott as John Parry. The series is one that many have been anticipating since its initial announcement, and the trailers have only heightened that excitement by showcasing the grand setting of HBO’s ambitious new venture. With the first season still on the horizon, BBC has already gone ahead and ordered a second season, further cementing their confidence in the upcoming series’ success. Now, fans can finally mark their calendars with the series’ official release.
The His Dark Materials Twitter page shared an official premiere date for the series that lands on November 4 on HBO. The tweet simply reads, “It’s time,” and is accompanied by a short 10-second clip that showcases the stars of the show along with small snippets of various locations located within the series. Check out the tweet here:
The series is helmed by Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) and was written by Jack Thorne, who wrote the stage play for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Considering the immense amount of talent both in front of and behind the camera, it appears that His Dark Materials will be a wondrous new addition to HBO’s already stacked library. Not to mention, extending the story into a television series will surely bode well for fans of the books, as one of the biggest complaints of the 2007 film The Golden Compass was how quickly it skipped over important events from the novel.
Many people have already taken to saying that His Dark Materials will be the next Game of Thrones, and though that is still yet to be seen, it already appears to be a worthy investment for both the BBC and HBO. The amount of time and effort that has gone into creating this show has been clear in every clip or trailer that’s been showcased to the world, and there’s no doubt that the talent involved will be bringing something special to the table in each episode. It appears that fans of the book series finally have an adaptation that’s true to its material, along with a cast and crew that are dedicated to making something spectacular. November 4 truly can’t come soon enough.
Next: His Dark Materials: 10 Things We Hope HBO Doesn’t Change From The Books
Source: His Dark Materials/Twitter
