‘Black Narcissus’ trailer: Gemma Arterton stars in new BBC mini-series – watch!

The first trailer has been released for the BBC’s upcoming adaptation of Black Narcissus.

The three-part mini-series is based on English author Rumer Godden’s 1939 literary novel; an iconic tale of sexual repression and forbidden love.

Black Narcissus began filming in October 2019 in Jomsom, Nepal and at Pinewood Studios, England.

British actress Gemma Arterton (Their Finest) leads the cast as Sister Clodagh.

She’ll be joined by the late Diana Rigg (Victoria) as Mother Dorothea, Jim Broadbent (War and Peace) as Father Roberts, Gina McKee (Bodyguard) as Sister Adela and Rosie Cavaliero (Gentleman Jack) as Sister Briony.

Watch the trailer:

 

BAFTA award-winning writer Amanda Coe is returning the haunting love story to its original setting in the 1930s, as the western colonial order is about to explode into the crisis of the Second World War.

Coe previously adapted Bloomsbury Group drama Life in Squares for BBC Two in 2015.

Black Narcissus will premiere in the US first on FX on Monday 23rd November.

The three 60-minute episodes will then air in the UK on BBC One this December.

FX has also released an extended trailer, featuring additional footage:

 

The official synopsis reads: “Black Narcissus follows Sister Clodagh (Arterton) and the nuns of St Faiths, who travel to Nepal to set up a branch of their order in the remote palace of Mopu.

“In the unfettered sensuality of the so-called House of Women, Sister Clodagh finds herself increasingly attracted to the handsome and damaged land agent, Mr Dean (Nivola). But as the repressed memories of Clodagh’s past become entangled with the tragic history of Princess Srimati, history seems doomed to repeat itself.

“Are there really ghosts here in the Himalayas, or are the nuns just succumbing to long-repressed primal desires? And which of them is prepared to die – or kill – for love?”

The cast also includes Alessandro Nivola (American Hustle) as Mr Dean, Aisling Franciosi (I Know This Much Is True) as Sister Ruth,  Patsy Ferran (Jamestown) as Sister Blanche, Karen Bryson (Safe) as Sister Philippa, and newcomer Dipika Kunwar as Kanchi.

Rumer Godden’s novel Black Narcissus is available on Amazon.