HBO’s His Darkest Materials Trailer Roars at SDCC

With Game of Thrones now officially over (with a record-breaking 32 Emmy nominations for its final season), HBO is officially moving into their post-Thrones programming. One of their new series with huge potential is their adaptation of Philip Pullman’s fantasy series His Dark Materials. They’ve debuted the first trailer at San Diego Comic-Con, and it sure looks lush, bold, and beautifully done.

We’ll be curious what the folks who have read Pullman’s novels think about this first look, but you can’t argue with how good this looks. You also can’t sneeze at the cast, which includes James McAvoy, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ruth Wilson, and Logan‘s pint-sized breakout star Dafne Keen. You can come for the top-notch cast and stay for the armored polar bear.

There’s action and adventure here to spare. Ruth Wilson’s Marisa Coulter looks like an especially intriguing character, spinning a web of deception to ensnare Keen’s protagonist, Lyra Belacqua, as children go missing and war is looming. This is a strong first trailer. We’ll want to see more.

Here’s His Dark Materials official description via HBO:

His Dark Materials stars Dafne Keen, James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson, and Lin-Manuel Miranda. Adapting Philip Pullman’s award-winning trilogy of the same name, which is considered a modern masterpiece of imaginative fiction, the first season follows Lyra, a seemingly ordinary but brave young woman from another world. Her search for a kidnapped friend uncovers a sinister plot involving stolen children and becomes a quest to understand a mysterious phenomenon called Dust. As she journeys through the worlds, including our own, Lyra meets Will, a determined and courageous boy. Together, they encounter extraordinary beings and dangerous secrets, with the fate of both the living—and the dead—in their hands.

His Dark Materials premieres on HBO this fall.

Featured image: ‘His Dark Materials.’ Courtesy HBO