His Dark Materials Trailer

It’s a jungle out there, and the new full-length trailer for HBO and BBC’s ‘His Dark Materials’ is inviting viewers to step into this savage new world.  Set in an alternate world, where science and magic coexist, the series, based on the books of Philip Pullman, ‘His Dark Materials’ shows a reality where everything is ruled by The Church, which has sinister plans, which seem to involve young Lyra Belacqua (Dafne Keen), who comes to possess the mystical device, the alethiometer.  (Or as Americans may know it, “The Golden Compass,” the name under which the first book, and the 2007 film adaptation were released in the US.)  As one character states:

“If she can read the alethiometer, she will be more valuable to us than any soldier we have.”

The cast also includes James McAvoy as Lord Asriel, a high-ranking operative of The Church, Ruth Wilson as “the cesspit of moral filth” and “the mother of all evil,” (Wilson’s words) Marisa Coulter, Clarke Peters, as The Master, Dr. Carne, and Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby, who Miranda describes as “the Han Solo of this story.”

Check out the trailer for Season 1 of ‘His Dark Materials’ below:

 

In a reality that exists parallel to our own world, young orphan Lyra Belacqua (Logan’s Dafne Keen) continues her rebellious streak at her home of Jordan College until she haphazardly foils an assassination plot against her explorer uncle, Lord Asriel (It Chapter Two‘s James McAvoy), when he comes to present his recent, potentially blasphemous findings to the university. It’s the first in a series of mysterious events that propel Lyra on an international journey, followed by a string of child kidnappings, the disappearance of her friend, and the arrival of the enthralling but dangerous Mrs. Coulter (The Affair‘s Ruth Wilson).

The voice cast includes Helen McCrory as Stelmaria, Lord Asriel’s snow leopard dæmon; David Suchet as Kaisa, the snow goose dæmon belonging to Serafina Pekkala, played by Ruta Gedmintas; Cristela Alonzo as Hester, Lee Scoresby’s arctic hare dæmon, who is said to first appear singing a duet with him; Kit Connor as Pantalaimon, or “Pan” for short, Lyra’s dæmon, who hasn’t yet settled on a form, as Lyra has not yet reached adolescence; Brian Fisher as the Golden Monkey, the dæmon that belonged to Lyra’s mother; and Joe Tandberg as Iorek Byrnison, the mighty polar bear that plays a large part in the story.

Season 1 only consists of eight episodes, but a second season, which adapts the book ‘The Subtle Knife’, is already in the works.  Amir Wilson will portray the new heroic character, Will Parry.  His father, Colonel John Parry, will be played by ‘Fleabag’s “hot priest” Andrew Scott.

‘His Dark Materials’ premiers on the BBC on Sunday, November 3, and on HBO, on Monday, November 4.

How does this series look so far?