FilmNation Entertainment and Film4 have announced that principal photography is underway on The Personal History of David Copperfield, an adaptation of the Charles Dickens classic from filmmaker Armando Iannucci (The Death of Stalin).

Described as a “fresh and distinctive take” on Dickens’ semi-autobiographical novel, The Personal History of David Copperfield is set in the 1840’s and chronicles the life of its iconic title character as he navigates a chaotic world to find his elusive place within it. From his unhappy childhood to the discovery of his gift as a storyteller and writer, David’s journey is by turns hilarious and tragic, but always full of life, colour and humanity.

Dev Patel (Lion, Slumdog Millionaire) will play the title character of David Copperfield, alongside Tilda Swinton (Doctor Strange), Hugh Laurie (Veep), Peter Capaldi (In the Loop), Ben Whishaw (A Very English Scandal), Paul Whitehouse (The Death of Stalin), Aneurin Barnard (Dunkirk), Daisy May Cooper (This Country), Morfydd Clark (The Falling), Benedict Wong (Avengers: Infinity War), Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) Anthony Welsh (Fleabag) and Rosalind Eleazar (Howards End).