When the film “Black Narcissus” arrived in cinemas in 1947, the feature shocked audiences with its technical wizardry and its, uh, adult themes involving nuns. The film would go on to win two Oscars and has stood the test of time as an all-time classic. But will FX find similar success with the upcoming limited series, “Black Narcissus?”
As seen in the new trailer for the series, FX is set to debut a three-part limited series, “Black Narcissus,” based on the novel by Rumer Godden, later this fall. And the series, much like the film, tells the story of a group of young nuns that attempt to start a mission in a remote clifftop palace in the Himalayas.
The new series comes from director Charlotte Bruus Christensen and writer Amanda Coe. “Black Narcissus” does sport a pretty great ensemble cast featuring Gemma Arterton, Alessandro Nivola, Aisling Franciosi, Diana Rigg, Jim Broadbent, Rosie Cavaliero, Karen Bryson, Patsy Ferran, Nila Aalia, Kulvinder Ghir, Chaneil Kular, Dipika Kunwar, Gina McKee, Soumil Malla, and Gianni Gonsalves.
“Black Narcissus” premieres on FX on November 23. New episodes will arrive on FX on Hulu a day later. You can watch the new trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis for the new limited series:
Black Narcissus is a three-part limited series based on the best-selling novel by Rumer Godden. Mopu, Himalayas, 1934. A remote clifftop palace once known as the ‘House of Women’ holds many dark secrets. When the young nuns of St. Faith attempt to establish a mission there, its haunting mysteries awaken forbidden desires that seem destined to repeat a terrible tragedy. During the latter years of British rule in India, ambitious young nun Sister Clodagh heads a mission to a remote part of the Himalayas. The palace of Mopu has been donated by General Toda Rai, who hopes the Sisters of St. Faith will rid the ‘House of Women’ of unhappy memories connected to his late sister, Srimati. Although Clodagh ignores the warnings of the General’s raffish agent Mr. Dean, isolation and illness soon take their toll, with the haunting atmosphere of the palace particularly affecting volatile Sister Ruth. As past and present collide, the arrival of the young General Dilip Rai is the catalyst for an explosion of repressed desires that may end in a fatal confrontation.