BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel's Tudor novels will include Damian Lewis, Mark Rylance
More cast members have been added to the BBC adaptation of Hilary Mantel鈥檚 acclaimed novels 鈥淲olf Hall鈥� and 鈥淏ring Up the Bodies.鈥�
鈥淗all鈥� centers on Thomas Cromwell, who served as an advisor to Henry VIII, and his efforts to survive in the Tudor court. 鈥淏odies鈥� focuses on Henry VIII鈥檚 ill-fated second wife Anne Boleyn as well as the continuing life story of Cromwell.
According to the , 鈥淗omeland鈥� actor Damian Lewis has been cast as Henry VIII and 鈥淎nonymous鈥� actor Mark Rylance will portray Cromwell. In addition, 鈥淗ysteria鈥� actor Jonathan Pryce will be playing Cardinal Wolsey and 鈥淕ame of Thrones鈥� actor Anton Lesser will play writer Thomas More. Anne Boleyn will be played by 鈥淰ampire Academy鈥� actress Claire Foy and the role of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII鈥檚 first wife, has gone to 鈥淭he Borgias鈥� actress Joanne Whalley.
Interestingly, Rylance has already starred in a movie about the world of Henry VIII 鈥� he portrayed Sir Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne, in the 2008 movie 鈥淭he Other Boleyn Girl,鈥� while Whalley starred as Mary, Catherine of Aragon鈥檚 daughter and later queen of England, in the 2005 miniseries 鈥淭he Virgin Queen.鈥�
The BBC series will air in six parts sometime next year and 鈥淭inker Tailor Soldier Spy鈥� writer Peter Straughan is behind the script.
Rylance lauded director Peter Kosminsky鈥檚 casting in an interview with the Guardian, saying, 鈥淢yself aside, I feel he has cast Wolf Hall with a superb eye for character and all the nuanced humanity Ms. Mantel's masterpieces deserve.鈥�
He also spoke positively of Mantel鈥檚 writing.
鈥淚 love it when an author, such as Hilary Mantel, does her research and discovers an original understanding of a very familiar piece of history,鈥� Rylance said. 鈥淓ven during our rehearsals her detailed imagination of the world of Thomas Cromwell is alive in Peter Straughan's ingenious and faithful adaptation.鈥澛�
Mantel won the Man Booker Prize for her novel 鈥淏odies鈥� and is reportedly working on the third part about her planned trilogy centering on Thomas Cromwell, with the third novel currently titled 鈥淢irror and the Light.鈥�
