Emmy winning Homeland star Clarie Danes is taking over the lead role in Apple TV+’s drama, The Essex Serpent, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The new upcoming drama is based on Sarah Perry’s novel of the same name. The new Apple series is being produced by See Saw Films (Ammonite, Top Of The Lake). 

The role that Danes is stepping into was originally confirmed to be played by actress Keira Knightly (Pirates of The Caribbean). She was cast in the project last year according to THR. She has since dropped out of the production citing rising concerns over the COVID-19 variant cases in the U.K.

According to THR, The Essex Serpent series is based on the award winning novel by Perry. In the new drama, Danes plates the role of Cora, a recent widow. After having been released from an abusive marriage she relocated from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex. Cora becomes intrigued by a local village superstition. A belief that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area.

Adapting Perry’s novel Anna Symon (Mrs. Wilson) will serve as the lead writer on the project and British The Selfish Giant director Clio Barnard is set to be the director according to THR.

The both will executive produce the series along with Jamie Laurenson (Project Nim), Hakan Kousetta (The Knot), Patrick Walters (See Saw Films), Ian Canning (Widows), Emile Shermand (The King’s Speech), and Andrea Cornell will serve as a producer.

The Essex Serpent will be the first series that Danes has starred in since her lead role in the award winning Showtime series Homeland. The fast paced Showtime drama concluded with its eighth and final season in April 2020. Danes earned three Emmys for her role in Homeland where played Carrie Mathison, a CIA operative on the run.