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Michael Gambon, Keeley Hawes and Rory Kinnear are among the names that will appear in the BBC’s adaptation of J K Rowling’s novel The Casual Vacancy (Sphere).
Production for the BBC1 miniseries, which is being made in association with HBO, will begin on 7th July. It will be a broadcast in three one-hour episodes, with the dates yet to be confirmed.
The Casual Vacancy centres on Pagford, a seemingly idyllic English village that is actually at war, with constituents pushing different political agendas trying to gain power after the death of parish councillor Barry Fairbrother, who will be played by Kinnear.
BAFTA Award-winning Gambon will take on the role of Howard Mollison, owner of the Pagford delicatessen, while Hawes will star as his daughter-in-law Samantha. Howard’s wife Shirley will be played by Julia McKenzie and his son Miles will be played by Rufus Jones.
Bronte Film and Television, the independent production company run by JK Rowling and Neil Blair, is producing the adaptation. Blair will be an executive producer along with Paul Trijbits and Rick Senat.
The miniseries is written by Sarah Phelps, who has previously written the BBC’s “Great Expectations” and “The Crimson Field”. Ruth Kenley-Letts will produce and BAFTA-winner Jonny Campbell will direct.
The Casual Vacancy, Rowling’s first novel for adults, has sold 757,048 copies through Nielsen BookScan since its publication in 2012.