ITV has greenlit a new adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s, Vanity Fair, which is being made with Amazon Studios.

The seven part series is written by Gwyneth Hughes (Dark Angel, The Girl, Miss Austen Regrets) and produced by Mammoth Screen.

Olivia Cooke – the 23 year old Oldham-born actress and star of Steven Spielberg’s forthcoming film Ready Player One – plays Thackeray’s heroine Becky Sharp.

Vanity Fair will be produced by Julia Stannard (War & Peace, The Great Train Robbery, United) with James Strong (Liar, Broadchurch, United) directing.  Mammoth Screen’s Managing Director Damien Timmer executive produces the series with Gwyneth Hughes, James Strong and Tom Mullens (Endeavour, Fearless, Poldark).

Vanity Fair will be filmed on location in and around London, with additional shooting in Budapest, from September 2017.

ITV Studios GE will be responsible for international distribution of the series.

Andrew Davies previously adapted the novel for the BBC, which broadcast the series in 1998 with Natasha Little playing Becky Sharp.

The BBC also aired versions of the period drama in 1956 and 1967, as well as a daytime version in 1987.

Gwyneth Hughes’ adaptation of Thackeray’s literary classic is set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, and follows Becky Sharp as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and scale the heights of English Society.

ITV head of drama Polly Hill said: “Vanity Fair feels like the perfect classic to adapt for ITV, and Gwyneth Hughes’ stunning scripts bring the novel to life in a way that will really connect with a modern audience.”

Commented Damien Timmer: ‘We’re so proud to be working with ITV and Amazon on this most glorious of stories – the combination of Olivia Cooke, Gwyneth Hughes and Thackeray will be an irresistible one, and we look forward to watching Becky Sharp conquer the 21st century!

Staff Reporter

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