BBC Home Entertainment is bringing director Toby Haynes and writer Peter Harness' Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell to Blu-ray. The 7-part British fantasy series stars Bertie Carvel and Eddie Marsan as the titular magicians, along with Alice Englert, Marc Warren, Samuel West, Charlotte Riley, Ariyon Bakare, Enzo Cilenti, Claudia Jessie, Vincent Franklin, Paul Kaye and Peter Bowles, and arrives on Blu-ray on August 11th.
Based on the bestselling, award-winning novel by Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell takes viewers on a journey through alternate history during 19th century England. Magic, a lost art which has lain dormant for centuries, is showing signs of returning. At the center of this renaissance are two men who are destined to become the greatest magicians that England—and possibly the world—have ever seen.
The reclusive Mr. Norrell (Marsan) of Hurtfew Abbey stuns the city of York when he causes the statues of York Cathedral to speak and move. With a little persuasion and help from his man of business Childermass (Cilenti), he goes to London to help the government in the war against Napoleon. It is there Norrell summons a fairy (Warren) to bring Lady Pole (Englert) back from the dead, opening a whole can of worms. Not only do Norrell and Jonathan Strange (Carvel) have to deal with all the trappings of Georgian society, the Napoleonic wars, and the whims of the supernatural, they have to contend with their own egos and, most of all, an uncomfortable realization that there may not be enough room in the world for one magician, never mind two.
The series is produced by Cuba Pictures for BBC One and co-produced with BBC America, in association with Feel Films, Far Moor, Screen Yorkshire and Bell Media's Space. It is distributed by Endemol Worldwide Distribution. The series is set to air on BBC America later this year.
Tech specs and special features have yet to be revealed for BBC Home Entertainment's Blu-ray release.
