HBO has released the teaser trailer for its adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, according to Vulture. Pullman’s novels, Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass, follow the orphan Lyra Belacqua, who lives in a parallel world in which magic, science, and theology are intertwined. While searching for her missing friend, Lyra discovers an evil scheme to steal children, and she embarks on a mission to understand the existence of “Dust.”
In 2015, BBC ordered new small screen adaptation of Pullman’s books. “The first season follows Lyra, a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world,” according to HBO. “Her search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and becomes a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. As she journeys through the worlds, including our own, Lyra meets Will, a determined and courageous boy. Together, they encounter extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets, with the fate of both the living — and the dead — in their hands.”
The cast includes Clarke Peters (The Wire) as the Master, Dafne Keen (Logan) as Lyra, James McAvoy (X-Men) who plays Lord Asriel, Ruth Wilson (The Affair) who plays Mrs. Coulter, and Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) who plays Lee Scoresby. Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) writes the show and Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech, Les Miserables) directs the series’ first two episodes.
“I’m delighted that the production is underway, and I’m looking forward immensely to seeing how it looks,” said Pullman. “Bad Wolf has assembled wonderful cast and I’m sure every HDM reader is as keen as I am to see it all coming together,” Pullman added.
Dan McCulloch (Victoria, Endeavour) executive produces, and Laurie Borg (Peaky Blinders, Black Mirror) produces. Bad Wolf and New Line Cinema, along with BBC Studios Distribution and Anton Capital Entertainment SC, produce the show for BBC One.
His Dark Materials still does not have a premiere date, and it will air later this year on HBO.