Steven Knight to Adapt Great Expectations for FX, BBC

Steven Knight is on board to write a six-part adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, once again teaming with producers Ridley Scott and Tom Hardy, with the limited series set for FX and the BBC.

Great Expectations will be produced by FX Productions in association with the BBC, Scott Free and Hardy Son & Baker. This marks the second Dickens adaptation penned by Knight, following the hit limited series A Christmas Carol, which delivered a total audience of more than 10 million viewers across linear and nonlinear channels last December.

Knight will write and executive produce Great Expectations, which will also be executive produced by Hardy, Scott, Dean Baker, David W. Zucker, Kate Crowe and Mona Qureshi for the BBC (the team behind A Christmas Carol) and Marina Brackenbury serves as co-executive producer.

Great Expectations and A Christmas Carol are the first two in a series of adaptations of Dickens’ novels commissioned by FX and the BBC. FX and the BBC also produced the acclaimed drama series Taboo, starring Tom Hardy, written by Steven Knight and produced by Knight, Hardy, Chips Hardy, Ridley Scott, Dean Baker and Kate Crowe.

Knight said, “Adapting Dickens’ work is a delight. I chose Great Expectations as 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.”

Eric Schrier, 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.”

Charlotte Moore, director of BBC content, said: “Great Expectations is the second in Steven Knight’s series of Dickens adaptations and the perfect choice given its timely and personal narrative. His original take on one of Britain’s most-loved classics will make it must-see drama for a whole new generation.”