What if you could live again and again until you got it right? Metaphysical reincarnation sci-fi about life, death, family, and more? Yep, it’s an adaptation of Kate Atkinson‘s acclaimed novel, “Life After Life,” which is a BBC series debuting this month in the U.K. And it features quite the cast too: Thomasin McKenzie, known for “Leave No Trace,” “Jojo Rabbit,” and most recently a small role in “The Power of The Dog,” Sian Clifford from “Fleabag” and Jessica Brown Findlay from “Downton Abbey.” They star in the series alongside James McArdle and Jessica Hynes, with Patsy Ferran, Harry Michell, Laurie Kynaston, Joshua Hill, and Maria Laird rounding out the cast.
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The BBC commissioned a four-part adaptation of Atkinson’s work last year, and the series debuts next week on April 19. The story centers on a girl named Ursula Todd (McKenzie,) who dies one night in 1910 before she can draw her first breath. On that same night in 1910, Ursula is born and survives.
So, yes, it’s sort of a story of reincarnation, fate, and redoing your destiny. The BBC doesn’t provide much of a synopsis, but here’s what they have to say about episode one:
Ursula’s birth sparks a thrilling journey as she dies and is reborn time and time again. In a country on the brink of change, she navigates through childhood in rural England.
Gillian Flynn, author and screenwriter of “Gone Girl,” wrote about the “Life After Life” novel, saying “There aren’t enough breathless adjectives to describe Life After Life: Dazzling, witty, moving, joyful, mournful, profound. Wildly inventive, deeply felt. Hilarious. Humane.”
Additionally, it’s unclear how many episodes he directs, but filmmaker John Crowley of “Brooklyn” fame helms some of the series. He’s also known for directing “True Detective” and “Boy A.” It’s also unclear when this series hits the U.S., but Amazon seems to have a pretty strong pipeline to UK/BBC series, so perhaps we’ll see it on Prime Video later this year with any luck. Watch the new trailer below.
