Olivia Colman Will Star as Miss Havisham in a New Great Expectations TV Series
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Charles Dickens's classic 1861 novel Great Expectations has had a number of notable adaptations over the years, but this latest version from FX and the BBC has our attention. Mainly, because Olivia Colman will be starring in the iconic role of Miss Havisham, a wealthy recluse who lost her mind after being jilted at the altar
The six-episode limited series is written by Steven Knight, who's known for his work on Peaky Blinders, Spencer, and most recently Netflix's upcoming adaptation of All The Light We Cannot See. This will be Knight's second Dickens adaptation—he previously wrote a new version of A Christmas Carol, also for the BBC and FX. Lucy Forbes (The End of the F***ing World) will be the lead director for the series.
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Fionn Whitehead will play Great Expectations protagonist Pip, an orphan who suddenly comes into a huge fortune from a mysterious benefactor, and has to navigate London high society as he comes of age. Whitehead's prior lead roles include Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk and Black Mirror: Bandersnatch.
The Great Expectations cast also includes Ashley Thomas, Johnny Harris, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Hayley Squires, Owen McDonnell, Trystan Gravelle and Matt Berry. The first teaser trailer is here:
The series is set to air in the spring on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK, and in the U.S., will stream on Hulu. No official premiere date has been set yet.
While we wait for the premiere, there are plenty of Great Expectations adaptations out there to tide you over. David Lean directed an acclaimed black-and-white movie version in 1946. More recently, BBC One made a 2011 version in three parts, which starred Gillian Anderson as Miss Havisham, and also featured Douglas Booth, Vanessa Kirby and Ray Winstone.
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