The War of the Worlds: what to expect from new BBC drama

The BBC is preparing to bring HG Wells’s The War of the Worlds back to life in a new mini-series adaptation.

Eighty years ago, Orson Welles frightened the American public into believing the world was actually ending as he narrated part of the story for a Halloween radio special. There have been numerous adaptations and spin-offs since, including the 2005 Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise, but this is the first to be set in London.

The upcoming three-part series will star Eleanor Tomlinson, Rafe Spall, Robert Carlyle and Rupert Graves, and has been written for television by Doctor Who’s Peter Harness.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Here’s what we know so far about the latest remake.

How is it different?

This new adaptation of the book - which Den of Geek notes was “the first alien invasion story in literature” upon its release in 1898 - will be set in Edwardian England, “unlike Steven Spielberg’s movie adaptation” which was set in modern-day Massachussetts, says Variety.

While the setting might be close to that of its Victorian-era source, the characters are not. George (played by Spall) and his partner Amy (Tomlinson) have been created especially for the series.

Graves takes on the role of Frederick, George's elder brother, while Scottish actor Carlyle plays Ogilvy, an astronomer and scientist. The story takes a dark turn as the four face the escalating terror of an alien invasion. Humanity is forced to flee or try to fight an enemy that none of them understand.

Director Craig Viveiros said: “HG Wells’s seminal novel has been adapted for the screen many times but it's always had a contemporary (and American) setting, this is the first version to be set in London.

“We aim to deliver an alien invasion story that will shock and awe audiences across the globe.”

Writer Harness said: “The version of The War of the Worlds that I wanted to make is one that's faithful to the tone and the spirit of the book, but which also feels contemporary, surprising and full of shocks: a collision of sci-fi, period drama and horror.

“There is nothing cosy or predictable about Wells’s novel, and that’s what I want to capture in the show.”

When will it be released?

No release date has been announced yet, but production began earlier this year, with filming taking place in Liverpool.

Is there a trailer?

Kind of. A teaser trailer for upcoming BBC dramas included some brief shots of the show, which can be seen below:

YouTube

Watch On