BBC to adapt Pullman’s Dark Materials

Former BBC Worldwide duo Jane Tranter and Julie Gardner have secured the first commission for their fledgling prodco Bad Wolf, with an adaption of a Philip Pullman trilogy for BBC1.

His Dark Materials centres on an orphan who lives in a parallel universe in which science, theology and magic are entwined and follows her as she uncovers a sinister plot to kidnap children.

LA and Wales-based Bad Wolf, set up by Tranter and Gardner in July, is producing alongside New Line Cinema.

Pullman, Tranter and Gardner will exec produce for Bad Wolf, along with Toby Emmerich and Carolyn Blackwood for New Line Cinema, Bethan Jones for BBC1 and Deborah Forte for publisher Scholastic.

The trilogy, made up of Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass, have been published in more than 40 languages and have already been adapted for radio and the stage. A film, an audiobook and a graphic novel have also been produced.

It’s been commissioned by Charlotte Moore, controller of BBC1, along with recently appointed drama chief Polly Hill who said Pullman’s “stunning trilogy” would be “a real family treat that shows our commitment to original and ambitious storytelling.”

Pullman added: “In recent years we’ve seen the way that long stories on television, whether adaptations (Game Of Thrones) or original (The Sopranos, The Wire), can reach depths of characterisation and heights of suspense by taking the time for events to make their proper impact and for consequences to unravel.

“And the sheer talent now working in the world of long-form television is formidable. For all those reasons I’m delighted at the prospect of a television version of His Dark Materials. I’m especially pleased at the involvement of Jane Tranter, whose experience, imagination, and drive are second to none.”

Tranter added: “The broad horizons of television suggests itself as the best of vehicles to capture the expansiveness of the story and worlds of Lyra and Will and I am looking forward to seeing how Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass will occupy their place in an audience’s imagination across many episodes and seasons.”

Tranter and Gardner revealed they were leaving BBCWW Productions earlier this year having moved to LA to head up the division in 2009. They previously worked on shows including Da Vinci’s Demons for Starz and Fox.

BBC1 has also ordered In The Dark, a four-part drama from writer Danny Brocklehurst (Ordinary Lies, The Driver, Exile). Another adaptation, this time based on novels by Mark Billingham, the show centres around the engaging and complex female detective Helen Weeks. It’s being made in-house by BBC Drama North.

Finally, the pubcaster has extended Drama Republic’s drama Doctor Foster into a second season. The show’s finale was the highest-rating BBC drama episode this year after Call The Midwife and is written by Mike Bartlett, who exec produces alongside Roanna Benn, Jude Liknaitzky and Greg Brenman and Matthew Read.