Apparently they don’t make it–at least in the first season–since a second season is already approved.  It’s the most classic piece of science fiction and adventure, coming to your PBS Masterpiece:  BBC’s latest adaptation of Jules Verne’s 1873 novel Around the World in 80 Days.  It’s David Tennant in the lead role as Phileas Fogg acting his most frenetically Doctor Whovian and passing to his fans the code word “companion” in its first trailer for the series.  It might be the most we’ve seen Tennant in this kind of rollicking role since his last turn as the 10th Doctor.  The production looks sharp, as we’d expect from the BBC, with costumes, trains, and set pieces quite up to snuff.

The series, another pandemic delay, is directed by Steve Barron (Coneheads, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Richard Donner’s Superman) and co-stars Leonie Benesch as Abigail Fix (The Swarm), and Ibrahim Koma (Sous le soleil) as Jean Passepartout, with music by Hans Zimmer (Sherlock Holmes, Muppets Treasure Island, Pirates of the Caribbean series, Blade Runner 2049), and production art and design by Paul Savulescu (Murder on the Orient Express, Solo: A Star Wars Story) and Sebastian T. Krawinkel (V for Vendetta). 

Keep an eye out for Shivaani Ghai (Batwoman, London Has Fallen) and Anthony Flanagan (Life on Mars, Doctor Who, Wild Bill, Humans).

Take a look at this adventure-filled trailer:

Best of all you don’t need to wait that long.  Around the World in 80 Days begins in the U.S. on PBS Masterpiece January 2, 2022, at 7 p.m. Central.  The UK gets an earlier start: December 26, 2021 (Boxing Day) on BBC One.

C.J. Bunce / Editor / borg