Though it's reportedly one of the most expensive series ever commissioned by the company, the BBC is clearly enthused by what it has seen so far of the new adaptation of Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials books. A second run of eight episodes has been commissioned.
Filming is underway on the first series in Wales in and around Cardiff's Wold Studios, which features Logan's Dafne Keen as Lyra, James McAvoy as Lord Asriel, Ruth Wilson as Marisa Coulter, Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby and Clarke Peters as Dr. Carne.
National Treasure's Jack Thorne has written the adaptation of the trilogy, which comprises the books Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Materials' narrative follows the adventures of Keen's Lyra Belacqua and Will Parry as they explore parallel universes inhabited by witches, armoured bears, and daemons.
Tom Hooper, Jamie Childs, Dawn Shadforth and Otto Bathhurst are directing the initial series, which has yet to confirm an air date.
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