It's something we've been dreaming about since we first got through Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy all those years ago, and now, finally, it seems that the TV adaptation is about to start filming.

(Because we can all agree that The Golden Compass went a bit south, right?)

Confirming that the new BBC series is gearing up to start shooting, a report in Broadcast revealed not only how many episodes are planned, but where they will be shot.

Production company Bad Wolf will be doing the honours, bringing Pullman's magical Oxford-based stories to life in its studio in Wales.

New Line Cinema

Related: Dakota Blue Richards says "there's been talk" of her appearing in the BBC's new His Dark Materials series

It's believed that "all exteriors" on His Dark Materials will be shot on location in Wales, excluding some establishing shots which will take place in the Arctic.

We know Wales can be cold, but it's not Svalbard cold, is it?

It's also been revealed that the series – which will be written by Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's Jack Thorne – will be "ready to roll" once the headline cast has been finalised. And that sounds very promising indeed.

MJ Kim/Getty Images

His Dark Materials is planned as a five-series, 40-episode juggernaut, with its first series based on Pullman's first instalment of the trilogy, Northern Lights.

Speaking about the mammoth task of adapting such a rich and imaginative story (and universe), Thorne reassured fans last year that he will be as "loyal to the books" as he possibly can.

"The advantage of television is we can slow down. In the film and on stage they had so much plot to get through, so much plot to churn through, whereas we've got the luxury of having time to get to know [lead character] Lyra, and spend time in her world."

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