Amazon Banishing Kit Harington's 'A Tale of Two Cities' to MGM+

In the Western Canon of Great Books, there are two books by Charles Dickens that everyone has heard of, even if they've never even seen a copy of the novel in their lives. The first, A Christmas Carol, has gotten new adaptations almost every year since the turn of the century, has been watched in some variation for generations, and most people can tell you the story, plot beat by plot beat. However, when it comes to Dickens' other great novel, A Tale of Two Cities, the opposite is true. While nearly everyone can recite the opening line, most people could not tell you the plot if their life depended on it. As for adaptations, the last time the story was adapted for any screen, big or small, was 1989, starring James Wilby and Serena Gordon, which aired in the U.S. on Masterpiece. 

The BBC has finally decided to rectify this startling oversight with a brand new version from the team behind Federation Stories, the same company behind the recent Masterpiece version of Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days with David Tennant, Ibrahim Koma, and Leonie Benesch. Federation is currently trying to make a go of it by reviving literary classics; in the press release, Managing Director Polly Williams said, “In an era of worldwide turbulence, confusion and uncertainty, A Tale of Two Cities is a very timely story."

With this being the first time the novel has been adapted for TV in almost 40 years, the BBC clearly expects it to be a success, simply out of audience curiosity. However, U.S. viewers are once again being screwed over, as Amazon has picked up the rights and promptly banished it to MGM+, the streaming service no one knows exists, let alone subscribes to. One can only hope Amazon stops trying to pretend MGM+ is really a going concern for the series, which arrived in 2026, and at the very least moves it to Prime Video, where it can sit underwatched alongside other kinda-hits like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.

Here is the new series synopsis:

London, 1782. Tensions run high in the war between France and Britain. A young woman, Lucie Manette, has her life upended when she receives a message from Paris - her father, assumed dead for almost 20 years, may be alive. The messenger - idealistic French emigré, Charles Darnay - is arrested and charged with treason. Lucie enlists the help of a brilliant but erratic young lawyer, Sydney Carton, to free Darnay in the hope that he will lead her to Paris to track down her father. Lucie’s collision with Darnay and Carton unleashes a powerful and complex love triangle. Both men fight to be worthy of her love, and Lucie is torn over which one to choose. Yet neither man - physically so alike, spiritually poles apart - can escape the other. Instead, they find themselves bound together in life and death, through triumphs, tragedies, marriage, and murder.

Thus far, the only cast announced are Kit Harington (Industry) as Sydney Carton, François Civil (Call My Agent) as Charles Darnay, and Mirren Mack (Miss Austen) as Lucie Manette. More casting is expected to be announced in due course.

All four episodes of the series will be adapted from Dickens' classic by Daniel West (Gunpowder), and directed by Hong Khaou (Mr. Loverman) with Simon Meyers producing. Harington and West executive produce for Thriker Films, alongside Polly Williams & Sarah Best for Federation Stories, Léo Becker for Federation Studio France, and Michael Wright for MGM+.

Shooting will commence in October 2025. A Tale of Two Cities is expected to debut on both sides of the pond in 2026. The 1989 version that aired on Masterpiece is available via YouTube Premium, and the 1980 BBC adaptation is available on BritBox.