This looks like the show to watch over Christmas.
Whenever discussions are being had about the upcoming HBO and BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman’s beloved books, four words are banned from being mentioned.
The. Golden. Compass. Film.
Christ, in terms of horrific adaptations of wonderful source material, Chris Weitz’s film is right up there among the worst because it was never concerned about a large part of what makes the books so good, the anti-religious attitude that’s depicted in Lyra’s struggle against the Magisterium.
Well, we’ve got high hopes for the TV show because all eight episodes in Season 1 are being solely dedicated to the first book in the series, Northern Lights.
It’s also a very good sign that the BBC have already approved Season 2 – before a single episode has been shown – because, as fans of the saga will know, The Subtle Knife is an extraordinary book.
In terms of cast, Logan star Dafne Keen seems like a perfect fit to play the young protagonist Lyra, who embarks on a dangerous journey of discovery in a parallel universe.
James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ruth Wilson, and Clarke Peters are all excellent additions as the supporting players.
Behind the lens, Oscar-winner Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) serves as lead director on the series, handling the first two episodes, with Dawn Shadforth (The Big Day) and Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders) directing later episodes in Season 1.
The first trailer set the tone for the show but the latest one ups the actions stakes.
It also gives us a more in-depth look at the Alethiometer in action.
Aside from this, there’s more footage of the various daemons, those sinister experiments in the North Pole, and the formidable Iorek Byrnison in action.
Oh yeah, Iorek is an armoured bear that could rip you in half with minimal effort. Yep, he’s as cool as he sounds.
All in all, we’re absolutely sold on the TV adaptation of His Dark Materials and if the show can capture even a small bit of what makes the books so great, this could be the TV show to watch over the Christmas period.
The BBC will be showing the first episode of His Dark Materials on 3 November.
Take a look at what’s in store.
Clip via HBO
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