Federation Stories and Thriker Films have announced a major new four-part adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and on MGM+ in the US. Filming begins in October, with a 2026 release planned.
The limited series will star Kit Harington (Industry, Game of Thrones), François Civil (Beating Hearts, The Three Musketeers) and Mirren Mack (Miss Austen, Hedda), with additional casting including Sharon Duncan-Brewster (Dune: Part 1), Yannick Renier (Reflection In A Dead Diamond), Fehinti Balogun (Down Cemetery Road), Barry Aird (Brassic), Roxane Duran (Interview With The Vampire), Theo Costa-Marini (Andor) and Guillaume Gallienne (The Regime).
Hong Khaou (Mr Loverman, Lilting) and Richard Clark (Outlander) will direct the series, adapted for television by writer and executive producer Daniel West (Gunpowder, Top Boy) in collaboration with Thriker Films co-founder and executive producer Kit Harington.
Set in London in 1782, the story follows Lucie Manette (Mack), whose life is transformed after receiving word that her long-presumed-dead father may be alive in Paris. The message is delivered by French émigré Charles Darnay (Civil), who is soon arrested and charged with treason.
Desperate to free him, and reach Paris, Lucie turns to brilliant but self-destructive young lawyer Sydney Carton (Harington). The encounter draws the three into a tangled, volatile love triangle that unfolds amid war, revolution and personal sacrifice.
“In an era of worldwide turbulence, confusion and uncertainty, A Tale of Two Cities is a very timely story,” said Polly Williams, Executive Producer and Managing Director of Federation Stories. “We hope Dan’s wonderful adaptation will surprise new audiences whilst delighting classic Dickens fans.”
Harington and West added: “A Tale of Two Cities is the original historical blockbuster, a heartbreaking romance and a brutal revenge mystery. Our adaptation will be a twisting period thriller with a contemporary, volatile love triangle at its heart.”
Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, praised the upcoming production, noting: “It has been many years since the last television adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities, and we couldn’t have a more perfect creative team to bring a new audience to one of the most intense, romantic and thrilling stories of all time.”
Produced by Federation Stories in co-production with Federation Studio France and Thriker Films, the series will be distributed internationally by Federation International. Executive producers include Polly Williams and Sarah Best for Federation Stories, Léo Becker for Federation Studio France, Kit Harington and Daniel West for Thriker Films, and Michael Wright for MGM+. Simon Meyers (I May Destroy You) serves as producer.
