Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (TV series)

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Genre Fantasy
Based on Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by Susanna Clarke
Written by Peter Harness
Directed by Toby Haynes
Starring
Country of origin United Kingdom
Original language(s) English
No. of episodes 7
Production
Executive producer(s)
  • Nick Marston
  • Tally Garner
  • Dixie Linder
  • Justin Thomson-Glover
  • Patrick Irwin
  • Matthew Read
Producer(s) Nick Hirschkorn
Running time 60 minutes
Production company(s)
Distributor Endemol
Broadcast
Original channel

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is a seven-part British fantasy television series to be shown on BBC One, adapted by Peter Harness from Susanna Clarke's best-selling novel of the same name,[1][2][3] to be aired in May 2015.[4] [5]

Plot

Set in England during the Industrial Revolution at the beginning of the 19th century, the series presents an alternate history where magic is widely acknowledged, but rarely practiced. Living in the rural north, Mr Norrell (Eddie Marsan) of Hurtfew Abbey is able to make the statues of York Cathedral talk and move. His manservant John Childermass (Enzo Cilenti) persuades him to travel to London to help in the war against France. While there, Mr Norrell encounters a leading member of the government and makes magic respectable in the realm when he conjures a fairy to bring the minister's fiancée (Alice Englert) back to life.

Meanwhile, also in London, Jonathan Strange (Bertie Carvel) meets Vinculus (Paul Kaye), a magician on Threadneedle Street, while attempting to propose to his love Arabella (Charlotte Riley). Strange is told by Vinculus that he is destined to be a great magician and begins to study magic.[1]

Cast

Production

On 30 November 2012, BBC One announced that the series had been commissioned for BBC One[6] by Ben Stephenson, controller of BBC drama commissioning.[1] The series is directed by Toby Haynes and produced by Nick Hirschkorn.[1][2] Co-production credits are shared by Cuba Pictures and BBC America, Feel Films, Far Moor, Screen Yorkshire and Space.[1]

On 23 October 2013, a read-through of the script took place.[7] Filming began on 28 October 2013 in Yorkshire, Canada and Croatia.[1] The executive producers for the series are Nick Marston, Tally Garner, Dixie Linder, Justin Thomson-Glover, Patrick Irwin and Matthew Read.[1] The set was visited by Susanna Clarke in November 2013.[8]

It was announced that the series will air in Canada on Space[9] and in the United States on BBC America.[10]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Eddie Marsan and Bertie Carvel cast in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell for BBC One". BBC. 25 October 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tartaglione, Nancy (25 October 2013). "Eddie Marsan To Topline 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell' For BBC One/BBC America". Yahoo TV. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  3. ↑ "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell". Fantastic Fiction. Retrieved 8 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell". BBC America. Retrieved 26 January 2015.
  5. ↑ "Empire magazine Strange & Norrell feature". Feel Films. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  6. ↑ "Danny Cohen looks ahead at the five key themes to define BBC One in 2013, and announces new commissions". BBC. 30 November 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  7. ↑ Harness, Peter (23 October 2013). "I have to say that was a pretty tremendous day of #JonathanStrangeandMrNorrell readthroughs with our wonderfully embargoed til Friday cast.". Twitter. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  8. ↑ West, Samuel (25 November 2013). "Susanna Clarke visited #jonathanstrangeandmrnorrell set last week. Said she kept thinking "What are all these people doing outside my head?"". Twitter. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  9. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (8 April 2013). "MIPTV: BBC Drama 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell' Acquired by Canada's Space Channel". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "BBC AMERICA to Premiere 'Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell' Series in 2014". BBC America. 8 April 2013. Retrieved 6 January 2013.

External links