BBC’s new Victorian-set ‘The War of the Worlds’ series begins filming

Production has begun on a new BBC adaptation of The War of the Worlds from the makers of Poldark and Victoria.

Wallander writer Peter Harness’s upcoming drama series is the first ever British television adaptation of H. G. Wells’s classic sci-fi novel – and the first to be set in the book’s original time period.

Filming is now underway in Liverpool and Cheshire.

The official synopsis reads: “Horsell Common in Surrey is struck by a huge meteor, and the inhabitants of Earth slowly fall victim to a vicious invasion. The three-part drama follows one man’s attempt to escape the ruthless Martians – but they are determined to destroy all human life as they attempt to conquer the earth…”

Executive producer Damien Timmer teased: “This huge title – the original alien invasion story – has been loosely adapted and riffed on countless times, but no one has ever attempted to follow Wells and locate the story in Woking at the turn of the last century. We hope Peter’s adaptation will be the definitive adaptation of one of the great classic novels – and a visceral, thought provoking thrill ride!”

H. G. Wells’s novel is available to buy now.

Writer Peter Harness (Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell) previously commented: “I’m feeling phenomenally lucky to be writing The War Of The Worlds, and blowing up gigantic swathes of the Home Counties at the dawn of the twentieth century. Wells’s book is ground zero for all modern science fiction, and like all the best sci-fi, manages to sneak in some pretty astonishing comments on what it is to be a human being too.

“I’m hoping to follow in the great man’s footsteps by making a terrifying, Martian-packed series which manages to be emotional, characterful, and – deep breath, dare I say it – even political at the same time.”

The War of the Worlds is expected to air on BBC One in the UK later this year.