By Lacy Baugher for Drama on December 11th, 2015

Epic BBC ‘War and Peace’ Adaptation Gets American Airdate

Lily James, Paul Dano and James Norton in "War and Peace". (Photo: BBC)
Lily James, Paul Dano and James Norton in "War and Peace". (Photo: BBC)
Lily James, Paul Dano and James Norton in "War and Peace". (Photo: BBC)

The lavish new BBC adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s epic novel War and Peace has a US airdate – and, in exciting news for us Yanks on this side of the point – it won’t be too far behind the UK premiere.

War and Peace will be a four-week television event here in the US, with episodes simulcast on A&E, the HISTORY Channel and Lifetime, beginning Monday, January 18 at 9pm. It will then continue on Mondays from 9-11pm. (The drama kicks off in the UK on January 3.)

Widely considered one of the greatest novels of all time War and Peace is set against the backdrop of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, and follows the rise and fall of five aristocratic families - The Bezukhovs, Bolkonskys, Rostovs, Kuragins, and Drubetskoys.

Downton Abbey’s Lily James stars as the beautiful and impulsive Natasha Rostov, alongside Paul Dano as the awkward but kindhearted Pierre Bezukhov, and James Norton as the dashing but cynical Andrei Bolkonsky.

They’re joined by an all star cast that includes Jim Broadbent, Gillian Anderson, Stephen Rhea, Rebecca Front, Aneurin Barnard, Tuppence Middleton and many more.

 Watch a new US trailer below: 

This clip definitely has a bit of a different tone than the UK trailer, yeah? It’s always so strange to see what elements of a production British versus American marketing will focus on, particularly when it involves the inclusion of seriously bizarre musical cues. (What is that song, anyway?) But it does usually mean we get to see more preview footage as a result, so it’s not all bad.   

 And even non-Tolstoy fans can appreciate these amazing period sets and costumes. Gorgeous!

 Does this look like something you’d watch? 

By Lacy Baugher for Drama on December 11th, 2015
Lacy Baugher

Lacy's love of British TV is embarrassingly extensive, but primarily centers around evangelizing all things Doctor Who, and watching as many period dramas as possible.

Digital media type by day, she also has a fairly useless degree in British medieval literature, and dearly loves to talk about dream poetry, liminality, and the medieval religious vision. (Sadly, that opportunity presents itself very infrequently.) York apologist, Ninth Doctor enthusiast, and unabashed Ravenclaw. Say hi on Threads or Blue Sky at @LacyMB. 

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