'The Casual Vacancy' and 'Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell' adaptations will air on the BBC
Two blockbuster literary adaptations will be coming to the BBC over the next couple years, as noted by .
The channel BBC One has ordered episodic adaptations of the novel 鈥溾�� by J.K. Rowling and of the novel 鈥溾�� by Susanna Clarke. The number of episodes for 鈥淭he Casual Vacancy鈥� is as yet undecided, but the series will air in 2014, while 鈥淛onathan Strange and Mr. Norrell鈥� will consist of six episodes and air in 2013. BBC One commissioned the adaptation of "The Casual Vacancy" with BBC Drama.
鈥淭he Casual Vacancy鈥� is a contemporary novel that follows the election for a town government seat, while 鈥淛onathan Strange and Mr. Norrell 鈥� follows the lives of two magicians who live in Europe during the Napoleonic period 鈥� an era when the practice of magic is alive and well.
There was the possibility that 鈥淛onathan Strange and Mr. Norell鈥� would be turned into a film released by New Line Cinemas after the studio optioned the rights to the book in 2005, but the project has never materialized.
Rowling will serve as a consultant on the 鈥淭he Casual Vacancy鈥� miniseries, according to the BBC.
鈥淚鈥檓 thrilled that the BBC has commissioned The Casual Vacancy,鈥� the author said in a statement. 鈥淚 always felt that, if it were to be adapted, this novel was best suited to television and I think the BBC is the perfect home.鈥�
BBC One is currently the home of another literary adaptation, the critically well-received TV show 鈥淪herlock,鈥� which is based on the novels by writer Arthur Conan Doyle.
