BBC is making an epic new six-hour adaptation of ‘Les Misérables’

The team behind last year’s TV adaptation of War and Peace is now working on bringing Les Misérables to the BBC.

Multi award-winning screenwriter Andrew Davies (Pride and Prejudice, Mr Selfridge, War and Peace) will adapt Victor Hugo’s 19th century classic, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest books ever written.

Les Misérables tells the story of Jean Valjean, a former convict unable to escape the shadow of his past life, and his relentless pursuit by the chilling police officer Javert.

Unlike 2012’s movie adaptation, starring Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway, the BBC’s interpretation will not be based on the 1980 musical.

Andrew Davies’ scripts will apparently “go back to the novel and delve deep into the many layers of Hugo’s story, revelling in Jean Valjean and Javert’s cat-and-mouse relationship, against the epic backdrop of France at a time of civil unrest.”

The writer commented: “Les Misérables is a huge, iconic title. Most of us are familiar with the musical version, which only offers a fragmentary outline of its story. I am thrilled to have the opportunity of doing real justice to Victor Hugo at last by adapting his masterpiece in a six-hour version for the BBC, with the same team who made War and Peace.”

Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, added: “Andrew Davies’ extraordinary skill for adaptation will bring the world-famous Les Misérables into powerful focus for a modern audience, with a multi-layered re-telling of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece. BBC One viewers can expect the same quality and scale from the team behind War and Peace in this epic tale of redemption and the healing power of love.”