Another BBC ‘Great Expectations’ Adaptation Is Coming From ‘Peaky Blinders’ Creator Steven Knight
Do we really need a newGreat Expectationsadaptation? Probably not, but as long as the BBC keeps recycling its costumes, we’ll keep getting more adaptations of Charles Dickens novels. However, BBC’s newly announced adaptation ofGreat Expectationshas a writer that could give the Dickens classic a gritty edge.Steven Knight, best known for creating the stylish 20th century gangster dramaPeaky Blinders, is set to write and executive produce the six-part BBC One/FX limited series adaptation ofGreat Expectationsfollowing the success of his dark 2019A Christmas Carol.
Deadline reports that Steven Knight is reuniting with hisTabooandA Christmas Carolcollaborators to develop a new adaptation of another Charles Dickens classic. Knight is writing and executive producing a six-part BBC One/FX limited series adaptation ofGreat Expectations, the 1860 coming-of-age story of an orphan named Pip. Ridley Scott, Tom Hardy, Dean Baker, David W. Zucker, and Kate Crowe are among the high-profile executive producers for Knight’sGreat Expectations.
The news comes on the heels of Knight’s successful adaptation ofA Christmas Carollast year starring a very mean-looking Guy Pearce. Knight’s reimagining the Christmas classic as a “dark, nighmarish horror movie,“as described by/Film’s Chris Evangelista, suggests that his take onGreat Expectationsmay have a bit of an edge to it compared to previous iterations. While Knight is an avowed Dickens fan, he also has a stylized, hypermasculine, hyperviolent approach to period dramas —Peaky Blindersbeing the prime example. While you’re able to generally expect the same old stuffy costume drama from BBC series, like the recent 2011 BBC/PBSGreat Expectationsminiseries, Knight’s involvement and his past work suggests we could see a more gritty spin on the classic. That and the partnership between BBC and the more envelope-pushing cable network FX, rather than the more subdued PBS, makes me have — well — great expectations for the series.
“Adapting Dickens' work is a delight. I choseGreat Expectationsas the next work to bring to the screen not just because of the timeless characters, but also because of the very timely story. A story of class mobility and class intransigence, told through an intensely emotional and personal first person narrative. As the son of a Blacksmith myself, Pip’s journey from the forge into society is a very special one to me,” Knight said in a statement.
Eric Schrier, the president of FX Entertainment, added, “FX is honored to begin the next chapter of collaboration with Steven Knight, Ridley Scott, Tom Hardy and their teams as they reunite for this modern adaption of Charles Dickens’Great Expectations. Their inaugural Dickens adaptation,A Christmas Carol, was a great success both creatively and commercially. We want to thank our partners at the BBC, Scott Free and Hardy Son & Baker for their support and can’t wait to get to work on this project.”
