‘Great Expectations’ confirms UK and US release date on BBC and Hulu

The BBC and Hulu have announced when their new version of Great Expectations begins.

Adapted from Charles Dickens’ thirteenth novel by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, the mini-series comes from the makers of Taboo and 2019’s A Christmas Carol.

The six-part adaptation includes director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Blade Runner) and actor Tom Hardy (Inception) among its executive producers, so this looks set to be a very classy production.

Some gorgeous promotional artwork has been released by the BBC this week, following last month’s teaser trailer.

The official synopsis for the series reads: “Great Expectations is the coming-of-age story of Pip (Fionn Whitehead), an orphan who yearns for a greater lot in life until a twist of fate introduces him to the mysterious and eccentric Miss Havisham (Colman) and Estella (Shalom Brune-Franklin), showing him a dark world of possibilities.

“Under the great expectations placed upon him, Pip will have to work out the cost of this new world and whether it will truly make him the man he wishes to be.”

When is the release date?

We can now officially confirm that Great Expectations will premiere on BBC One and streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK at 9pm on Sunday 26th March.

In the US, it’ll be available on Hulu from the same day.

Great Expectations will be streaming on Star+ in Latin America, and we’re told it’ll also be added on Disney+ in the UK under the Star banner at a later date.

Olivia Colman (The Crown) leads the cast as the iconic Miss Havisham, with Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk) playing Pip.

They’re joined by Ashley Thomas (The Ipcress File), Johnny Harris (Medici), Shalom Brune-Franklin (The Tourist), Hayley Squires (Call the Midwife), Owen McDonnell (Killing Eve), Trystan Gravelle (Quiz), Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows), Laurie Ogden (The Colour Room), and Rudi Dharmalingam (The Split).

Olivia Colman is having a great year already, with her Empire of Light movie recently receiving nominations at the Oscars, the Golden Globes, and the BAFTAs.

Watch the trailer here:

Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, previously revealed that the new adaptation of Great Expectations will “take on one of Britain’s most loved classics [and] make it must-see drama for a whole new generation.”

It’s the second in screenwriter Steven Knight’s planned series of Dickens adaptations for the BBC and FX.

Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations is available on Amazon.