‘Great Expectations’ trailer: Olivia Colman stars in BBC’s new Dickens adaptation
A brief teaser has been released by the BBC for their upcoming Great Expectations drama.
The new six-part version of Charles Dickens’ thirteenth novel has been adapted by Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight.
First announced by the BBC and FX in 2020, the mini-series comes from the same creative team as Taboo and 2019’s A Christmas Carol adaptation.
The Crown star Olivia Colman is leading the cast as the iconic Miss Havisham.
Released this week, the first promo clip shows Miss Havisham meeting young Pip when he arrives at Satis House for the first time, ready to begin his education to become a gentleman – watch it here:
It’s only 15 seconds long, but the footage certainly gives us an idea of the brooding atmosphere we should expect from the show.
Currently wowing audiences in Sam Mendes’ BAFTA-nominated Empire of Light movie, Olivia Colman is joined by Fionn Whitehead (Dunkirk) as the older Pip.
The cast also includes 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), and Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows).
The official synopsis 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?
Great Expectations is set to premiere this spring on BBC One and streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Nothing has been confirmed yet, but we’re expecting an Easter weekend launch in April.
The series will be available exclusively on Hulu in the US and internationally, and on Star+ in Latin America.
It’ll then arrive on Disney+ in the UK under the Star banner at a later date.
Peaky Blinders writer Steven Knight previously commented: “Adapting Dickens’ work is a delight. I chose Great Expectations as the next work to bring to the screen not just because of the timeless characters, but also because of the very timely story.
“A story of class mobility and class intransigence, told through an intensely emotional and personal first-person narrative. As the son of a Blacksmith myself, Pip’s journey from the forge into society is a very special one to me.”
Knight’s previous Chares Dickens adaptation, A Christmas Carol, was watched by nearly 8 million viewers when it aired a few years ago, attracting mostly positive reviews.
Steven Knight’s A Christmas Carol is available to watch on Amazon Prime.