The BBC has announced that Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders, Taboo) will be bringing a series of Charles Dickens adaptations to BBC One, beginning with the festive classic A Christmas Carol. The TV adaptations will be produced by Ridley Scott’s Scott Free, in association with Tom Hardy’s Hardy Son and Baker.
“Any question about narrative storytelling is answered by Dickens,” said Knight. “To have the chance to revisit the text and interpret in a new way is the greatest privilege. We need luck and wisdom to do this justice.”
“Steven’s unique ability to reimagine the past and to turn it in to must see drama make him the perfect writer to reimagine Dickens’ most famous works for a new generation,” added Piers Wenger, Controller of BBC drama. “And in A Christmas Carol, that most familiar of Dickens’ stories, he has found the perfect place to start.”
“It’s terrific to be continuing the creative partnership of Scott Free London with Tom and Steve that started with Taboo and continues with this exciting and ambitious anthology of British classics,” said Ridley Scott.
“It’s extremely exciting to have the opportunity to team up with Ridley Scott, Steven Knight and our partners at the BBC with this rare and wonderful opportunity to revisit and interpret Dickens’ classic works.,” stated Tom Hardy. “A Christmas Carol is a fabulous magical piece of theatre and an embarrassment of riches for our creative team – from character all the way through to design. Here’s to having a lot of intricate and wonderful fun. We feel very lucky.”
A Christmas Carol will be developed as three hourlong episodes, and is slated to air on BBC One in Christmas 2019.