Following last week’s full trailer debut, PBS has officially granted Ashley Pharaoh’s upcoming series adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel Around the World in 80 Days an early second season renewal. David Tennant, Ibrahim Koma, and Leonie Benesch are expected to reprise their leading roles in the second installment.
In addition, Producers Slim Film + Television and Federation Entertainment have confirmed that they’re in the process of developing a new adventure series based on another Jules Verne classic titled Journey to the Center of the Earth. Pharaoh is also attached to the new project as its showrunner.
“We have loved working on the sequel to Around the World in 80 Days and now we are excited to also bring Ashley’s trademark blend of humour and emotion to Journey to the Centre of the Earth, Ashley has developed an ensemble of exciting new and updated characters to bring a fresh and modern take to another of Jules Verne’s beloved novels,” Slim Film + Television’s Simon Crawford Collins said in a statement (via Collider).
Federation’s Lionel Uzan added, “We couldn’t be more excited to embark on this thrilling new adventure with Slim and keep exploring Jules Verne’s deeply compelling and trailblazing legacy together. Working hand-in-hand on Around the World in 80 Days has been an inspiring experience for us all, and fresh-off this first globe-trotting odyssey together, it only seemed natural that our next journey would bring us to the innermost depths of our planet and its many secrets through this ever-more relevant story.”
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Around the World in 80 Days is created and written by Ashley Pharaoh. It will be led by David Tennant (Jessica Jones) as Phileas Fogga, preposterously upper middle class, over-educated Englishman … [with] a childlike sense of wonder because he’s never traveled, and he’s never left London or his club.
“Following an outrageous bet, Fogg and his valet, Passepartout, take on the legendary journey of circumnavigating the globe in just 80 days, swiftly joined by aspiring journalist Abigail Fix, who seizes the chance to report on this extraordinary story.” reads the synopsis.
Joining Tennant are rising French star, Ibrahim Koma (Mother Is Wrong) as Passepartout, Leonie Benesch (The Crown) as Abigail Fix, Jason Watkins (The Crown) as Bernard Fortescue, and Peter Sullivan (Poldark) as Nyle Bellamy.
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This marks the second scripted TV adaptation of the classic tale, with the first one being the 1989 limited series that starred Pierce Brosnan and Julia Nickson. It has also been adapted for the big screen, with the most recent version being 2004’s Jackie Chan-led film.
