Last month came the rather unexpected news that Drive and The Neon Demon director Nicolas Winding Refn is producing a TV adaptation of Enid Blyton’s beloved children’s books The Famous Five for The BBC, and now we have our first official look at the upcoming series.
As revealed by the BBC with the first look image above, the new series will feature Diaana Babnicova as George, Flora Jacoby Richardson as Anne, Kit Rakusen as Dick and Elliott Rose as Julian, long with Kep the Dog as Timmy.
Also set to feature in the show alongside the young leads are Jack Gleeson (Game of Thrones) as Wentworth, Ann Akinjirin (Moon Knight) as Fanny, James Lance (Ted Lasso) as Quentin and Diana Quick (Father Brown) as Mrs Wentworth. The official synopsis reads:
The Famous Five follows the five daring young explorers as they encounter treacherous, action-packed adventures, remarkable mysteries, unparalleled danger, and astounding secrets in an unforgettable odyssey that evokes the power of camaraderie between the fearless young heroes.
“Our brilliant young cast are mind-blowingly talented and, along with Kip (playing Timmy), they are already bringing these gorgeous characters to life in a fresh and modern way,” said executive producer Tim Kirkby, who is also directing the first episode. “Together with the brilliant Jack, Ann, James and Diana we can’t wait to bring these glorious, action-filled, epic, family adventures to the screen.”
The Famous Five is a co-production between the BBC and Germany’s ZDF, and is currently shooting in the UK.