James R | On 19, Sep 2021

“I’m going to circumnavigate the globe in 80 days.” That’s the sound of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days heading to BBC One, and a new trailer and images give us a first glimpse of David Tennant in action as Phileas Fogg.

The series sees Tennant play the intrepid explorer, joined by Ibrahim Koma as the mercurial Passepartout and Leonie Benesch as young journalist Abigail “Fix” Fortescue.

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.

The series has been adapted by a team of writers led by Ashley Pharoah (Life on Mars, Ashes to Ashes, The Living and the Dead) and Caleb Ranson (Child of Mine, Heartless), and the production has trotted the globe everywhere from Cape Town, South Africa to Romania.

The eight-part series will debut later this year. Here’s the new trailer:

 

First look: David Tennant in Around the World in 80 Days

16th September 2020

David Tennant will be taking us Around the World in 80 Days next year – and we’ve now got our first look at him as Phileas Fogg.

The Slim film+television and Federation Entertainment production will see the Doctor Who and Good Omens star play the explorer in an epic eight-part adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel.

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.

Joining Tennant to complete the trio are rising French star Ibrahim Koma (Je Suis Daddy, Mother Is Wrong), who takes on the role of the mercurial Passepartout – an irrepressible chancer who falls into the role of Fogg’s valet, little knowing it will change his life forever – and Leonie Benesch (The Crown, White Ribbon) as Abigail.

The series is adapted by Ashley Pharoah (Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes, The Living And The Dead) and Caleb Ranson (Child Of Mine, Heartless). After halting production due to the coronavirus pandemic, the series is now on course to touch down in 2021. Here’s the first artwork from the programme:

 

Photo: Joe Alblas / Design by TEA Entertain

 

BBC acquires Around The World In 80 Days starring David Tennant

6th December 2019

The BBC has acquired Around The World in 80 Days, a new drama starring David Tennant.

The Slim film+television and Federation Entertainment production will see the Doctor Who and Good Omens star play literature’s greatest explorer, Phileas Fogg, in an epic eight-part adaptation of Jules Verne’s classic novel.

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.

Joining Tennant to complete the trio are rising French star Ibrahim Koma (Je Suis Daddy, Mother Is Wrong), who takes on the role of the mercurial Passepartout – an irrepressible chancer who falls into the role of Fogg’s valet, little knowing it will change his life forever – and Leonie Benesch (The Crown, White Ribbon) as Abigail Fix, the young British reporter determined to make her mark in a man’s world and emerge from the long shadow of her establishment father.

The series is adapted by Ashley Pharoah (Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes, The Living And The Dead) and Caleb Ranson (Child Of Mine, Heartless).

Sue Deeks, Head of BBC Programme Acquisition, says: “This is such an exciting project. There is an amazing team both in front and behind the camera and we cannot wait to see their ambitious interpretation of this classic novel for a new generation.”

Steve Barron (The Durrells, Treasure Island, Dreamkeeper) will be lead director with Charles Beeson (The Mentalist, Supernatural) also lined up to direct a number of episodes. The Executive producers are Simon Crawford Collins for Slim film+television and Lionel Uzan and Pascal Breton for Federation.

Filming will begin in February 2020.

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