It’s no secret that after Game of Thrones, HBO is looking for its newest hit, wherever it might come from. The network could be banking on yet another literary adaptation, this time of Philip Pullman’s beloved fantasy series His Dark Materials. And if the trailer is anything to go by, HBO is certainly is putting its best foot forward on this one.
Here is the official synopsis:
Adapting Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy of the same name, which is considered a modern masterpiece of imaginative fiction, the first season follows Lyra, a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. 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.
Dafne Keen, who you might remember as X-23 in Logan, plays the main character Lyra. James McAvoy plays her uncle Lord Asriel, Ruth Wilson is the villain Marisa, and Lin-Manuel Miranda is adventurer Lee. The first season of the show will be based on the first book, Northern Lights which is also known as The Golden Compass, though more seasons are planned with cast already signed on for the major parts.
In terms of a fantasy series, this has everything a network looking for its next big hit could want: a nefarious organization kidnapping children, a mysterious phenomenon that will remain a mystery for seasons, a large expanse of nations and places to capture the imagination, and an armored polar bear named Iorek Byrinson. What more could you want?
His Dark Materials Season 1 is set to premiere on HBO in Fall 2019.