ITV Commissions 'Vanity Fair' Adaptation Starring Olivia Cooke

ITV has commissioned a brand new adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray's novel 'Vanity Fair' starring English actress Olivia Cooke ('Ready Player One', 'Bates Motel', 'Me and Earl and the Dying Girl').

The seven-part series of the same name is written by Gwyneth Hughes ('Dark Angel', 'The Girl', 'Miss Austen Regrets') and produced by leading production company Mammoth Screen. It is being made with Amazon Studios.

Gwyneth Hughes' adaptation of Mr Thackeray's literary classic is set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, and follows Becky Sharp (Olivia Cooke) as she attempts to claw her way out of poverty and scale the heights of English Society.
 
ITV Head of Drama Polly Hill said: "Vanity Fair feels like the perfect classic to adapt for ITV, and Gwyneth Hughes' stunning scripts bring the novel to life in a way that will really connect with a modern audience. The question was always who would be our perfect Becky Sharp and that is undoubtedly Olivia Cooke! So we are thrilled she has agreed to play Becky, in what promises to be a very exciting new drama for ITV next year."
 
Vanity Fair will be produced by Julia Stannard ('War & Peace', 'The Great Train Robbery', 'United') with James Strong ('Liar', 'Broadchurch', 'United') directing. Mammoth Screen's Managing Director Damien Timmer executive produces the series with Gwyneth Hughes, James Strong and Tom Mullens ('Endeavour', 'Fearless', 'Poldark'). 
 
Vanity Fair will be filmed on location in and around London, with additional shooting in Budapest from September 2017.
 
ITV Studios GE will be responsible for international distribution of the series.