Luther and The Affair star Ruth Wilson is the latest big name to join the BBC adaptation of His Dark Materials.

Wilson will be starring as protagonist Marisa Coulter, a former lover of Lord Asriel (James McAvoy), according to Deadline.

Coulter is one of the main characters in Philip Pullman's trilogy, and is described as a beautiful 35-year-old in the third novel, The Amber Spyglass. Her relationship with main character Lyra (Dafne Keen) – an orphan who travels to a parallel universe – is one of the main strands of the story.

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Related: His Dark Materials TV series on the BBC – Everything you need to know

News of Wilson's casting comes after McAvoy was confirmed for the part of Lord Asriel, the adventurer/father of Lyra.

Clarke Peters has also signed onto the eight-part first series, playing the master who raises Asriel's curious child. You may recognise Peters from his appearances in The Wire and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda has been cast as balloonist and adventurer Lee Scoresby.

Pullman has previously spoken about his experience working on the series with writer Jack Thorne, saying: "I've greatly enjoyed talking to him and learning about his plans for bringing His Dark Materials to the screen.

"I'm certain he'll do a superb job, and I look forward to seeing the whole project develop as he shapes the story."

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