Oscar nominee and BAFTA winning writer Steven Knight has signed on to write a six-part adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations for BBC 1 and FX.
This will be the second Dickens adaptation for Knight following the recent BBC version of A Christmas Carol. Knight is once again teaming with producers Ridley Scott and Tom Hardy.
Knight will write and executive produce Great Expectations (6×60′), which will also be executive produced by Tom Hardy, Ridley Scott, Dean Baker, David W. Zucker, Kate Crowe and Mona Qureshi for the BBC – the team behind A Christmas Carol. Great Expectations will be produced by FX Productions in association with the BBC, Scott Free and Hardy Son & Baker.
Steven Knight said, “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.”
Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, said, “Great Expectations is the second in Steven Knight’s series of Dickens adaptations and the perfect choice given its timely and personal narrative. His original take on one of Britain’s most loved classics will make it must see drama for a whole new generation.”
Eric Schrier, President, FX Entertainment, added, “FX is honored to begin the next chapter of collaboration with Steven Knight, Ridley Scott, Tom Hardy and their teams as they reunite for this modern adaption of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Their inaugural Dickens adaptation, A Christmas Carol, was a great success both creatively and commercially. We want to thank our partners at the BBC, Scott Free and Hardy Son & Baker for their support and can’t wait to get to work on this project.”
Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol are the first two in a series of adaptations of Dickens’ novels, commissioned by Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC Drama, and Charlotte Moore, Director of BBC Content, and produced with FX Productions. The BBC and FX also produced the acclaimed drama series Taboo, starring Tom Hardy, written by Steven Knight and produced by Knight, Tom Hardy, Chips Hardy, Ridley Scott, Dean Baker and Kate Crowe.
Jon Creamer
Share this story
