War Of The Worlds (BBC-1 2018)

From Peter Harness comes the first British television adaptation of H. G. Wells’ novel The War Of The Worlds. Funny to think that the BBC have never attempted a take on this classic before. At least the technology we have now should do it justice.

Horsell Common in Surrey is struck by a huge meteor, and the inhabitants of Earth slowly fall victim to a vicious invasion. The three-part drama follows one man’s attempt to escape the ruthless Martians – but they are determined to destroy all human life as they attempt to conquer the earth…

Writer, Peter Harness says: “I’m feeling phenomenally lucky to be writing The War Of The Worlds, and blowing up gigantic swathes of the Home Counties at the dawn of the twentieth century. Wells’s book is ground zero for all modern science fiction, and like all the best sci-fi, manages to sneak in some pretty astonishing comments on what it is to be a human being too. I’m hoping to follow in the great man’s footsteps by making a terrifying, Martian-packed series which manages to be emotional, characterful, and – deep breath, dare I say it – even political at the same time.”

Damien Timmer, Mammoth Screen Managing Director, says: “It’s a great honour to bring H.G. Wells’s masterpiece to BBC One. This huge title – the original alien invasion story – has been loosely adapted and riffed on countless times, but no one has ever attempted to follow Wells and locate the story in Woking at the turn of the last century. We hope Peter’s adaptation will be the definitive adaptation of one of the great classic novels – and a visceral, thought provoking thrill ride!”

cast
No casting announced yet

key behind the scenes crew
Peter Harness as Writer
H.G. Wells as Original Author

show type
Period scifi drama
3×60 minute episodes

broadcast from
Due to begin filming early 2018.

network and production companies
BBC One – Mammoth Screen