The novel's been clocking up readers since it was published in 1982; the play blew audiences away when it opened at the National Theatre, and now the film of War Horse is coming from one Steven Spielberg. And today has seen the first images from the film emerge.
For those of you not keeping up to date with the activities of Empire's highest-profile editor (sorry, Mark), the story focuses on the friendship between a young boy called Albert (Jeremy Irvine) and his horse Joey. His father Ted (Peter Mullan) sells Joey to the British cavalry and he's sent off to the dying fields of World War I. Meanwhile, however, Albert can't forget his equine friend and sets off to bring him home.
These images show Jeremy Irvine as Albert, Emily Watson as his mother, Celine Bucken as Emilie and, most importantly, Joey. The film also stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Hiddleston, Toby Kebbell and David Thewlis, with Richard Curtis and Lee Hall adapting the script from the book and play.
War Horse is out on January 13, 2012 here in the UK.