BBC developing a Victorian-era War of the Worlds mini-series

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

H. G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds" is well over one hundred years old at this point, but very few of the adaptations of the classic sci-fi novel have stayed true to its Victorian-era setting. The BBC recently announced a handful of new projects, among them a three-part series based on "The War of the Worlds," except this time the series will be set in the United Kingdom and take place in the late 1890's.

The series will be adapted by Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell writer Peter Harness and is expected to begin filming early next year. Harness says that he feels "phenomenally lucky to be writing The War Of The Worlds, and blowing up gigantic swathes of the home counties at the dawn of the 20th Century." Little is known about just how they will tackle the series at this time, but Harness adds that H.G. Well's novel 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, managing director of producer Mammoth Screen, said that "it's a great honour to bring HG Wells' 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 Dorking 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." Although it will be quite exciting to see the "The War of the Worlds" story realized as faithfully as possible, I must admit that Steven Spielberg's WAR OF THE WORLDS, which took place in New York during the present day, remains one of my favourite adaptation of Wells' story, annoying kids and all.