Eddie Marsan and Bertie Carvel to play the magical pair in Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrell
Set around the time of the Napoleonic Wars, it imagines a world where magic once existed, disappeared and has returned to England with the titular Norrell and Strange.
Joining Marsan and Carvel in the seven-part adaptation are Alice Englert (the best thing in Beautiful Creatures ), Marc Warren ( Doctor Who ’s “Love And Monsters”), Samuel West ( Eternal Law, Van Helsing ), Charlotte Riley ( Wuthering Heights , Easy Virtue ), Enzo Cilenti ( Guardians Of The Galaxy, Kick-Ass 2 ) and Paul Kaye ( Game of Thrones, Being Human ).
The series has been adapted by Peter Harness ( Case Histories , Wallander ) and will be directed by Toby Haynes ( Doctor Who , Sherlock ) when filming begins next week in Yorkshire, Canada and Croatia.
Eddie Marsan says: “I can't wait to start playing Norrell in this terrific adaptation of Susanna Clarke's novel, and to be working with such a cast of actors, many of whom I've admired for so long.”
Bertie Carvel says: “I read the book some years ago and was totally enchanted. I've been casting spells for the part of Strange ever since. It is a considerable surprise to find that some of them worked!”
Ben Stephenson, Controller of BBC Drama Commissioning, says: “We have secured the most original, talented and dynamic cast and team to produce BBC One’s brand new adaptation of Susanna Clarke’s award-winning novel Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. This cements our reputation for bold and ambitious drama and I can’t wait to see Bertie and Eddie bring these wonderful characters to life in a unique and exciting way.”
