BBC rewrites DICKENS to make British Empire more beastly in new TV version of Great Expectations
Now the BBC is rewriting DICKENS to make the British Empire less desirable in a new television version of Great Expectations starring Olivia Colman.
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written by Peaky Blinders Creator Stephen Knight puts a new twist on the beloved novel, making references to imperial evils that weren’t present in the original Victorian book.
In one scene, one of the central characters, criminal Magwitch, describes the British Empire as “built on the lies of privileged white men,” reports The Telegraph.
Asked by the newspaper if he was worried his version of the beloved story might confuse traditionalists, Knight said, “It’s everyone’s right to react the way they want to react.
“But I want to say the book exists, it’s still there. This is not an attempt to say this book is wrong or this one is better.
The new show stars multiple Oscar-winning British actress Olivia Colman as the terrifying Miss Havisham and Fionn Whitehead as the orphan Pip.
A new twist on the beloved novel written by Peaky Blinders creator Stephen Knight
Knight also reportedly told his cast that the adaptation aims to remove the stiffness long associated with Victorian Britain.
The 1861 novel, still set in the 19th century, is adapted into a slightly more contemporary drama that the creators hope will attract new audiences.
The show’s lead actor, Fionn Whitehead, expressed hope that the BBC’s dramatization would make orthodox fiction “more accessible to young people”.
The actor, who has starred in “Dunkirk” and is no stranger to period dramas, plays the novel’s main character, the orphan Pip.
While promoting the show, he described Empire as “terrifying” in interviews, challenging those who disagreed.
“The empire was a terrifying one, with many British people going out and enslaving, looting, and destroying many cultures around the world.
“It was driven by greed.
The new show stars multi-Oscar-winning British actress Olivia Colman as the dreaded Miss Havisham.
The 1861 novel, still set in the 19th century, has been adapted into a six-part costume drama that the creators hope will attract new audiences.
Coleman and Whitehead star opposite Line of Duty actress Shalom Brune Franklin (right) as Estella.The drama will stream on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from next Sunday
Whitehead, 25, plays orphan Pip and faces Line of Duty actress Shalom Brune Franklin, 28, as her lover Estella.
They star alongside top boy actor Ashley Thomas, 38, as Jaguars’ attorney, and The Split star Rudy Dermalingham, 41, who plays Jaguars’ assistant Wemick.
Johnny Harris, 49, of This Is England portrays escaped convict Magwitch.
Adult Materials actress Haley Squires, 34, plays Pip’s sister Sarah Gargery, while Killing Eve actor Owen McDonnell, 49, plays her husband, Joe Gargery.
The highly anticipated six-part drama will stream on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from next Sunday.
