The BBC has unveiled stunning first-look photos from its upcoming adaptation of Richard Adams's beloved novel Watership Down along with some jaw-dropping casting news.

Images from the animated Christmas miniseries offer a glimpse into the journey of the rabbits of Sandleford Warren to find freedom from the encroachment of man. Have a look below:

BBC

[Clover]

BBC

[General Woundwort]

BBC

[Fiver and Hazel ask Bigwig if they can speak to The Threarah]

The incredible voice acting cast already included the likes of X-Men's James McAvoy and Nicholas Hoult, Ben Kingsley, former Bond girl Gemma Arterton, The Crown's Olivia Colman and Star Wars' John Boyega, but the BBC has added even more impressive international talent to the line-up today (November 1):

BBC

[Hazel, Blackberry, Bigwig, Fiver, Dandelion and Hawkbit]

Doctor Who's Peter Capaldi as Kehaar

Gone Girl's Rosamund Pike as The Black Rabbit Of Inlé

Black Panther's Daniel Kaluuya as Bluebell

Kingsman's Taron Egerton as El-Ahrairah

The Office's Mackenzie Crook as Hawkbit

Captain Marvel's Gemma Chan as Dewdrop

The Crown's Jason Watkins as Captain Orchis

James Bond's Rory Kinnear as Cowslip

Line of Duty's Craig Parkinson as Captain Sainfoin

Yes, Prime Minister's Henry Goodman as Blackavar

Batman Begins' Tom Wilkinson as Threarah

Harry Potter's Lee Ingleby as Captain Campion

Line of Duty's Charlotte Spencer as as Nettle

Black Mirror's Daniel Rigby as Dandelion

BBC

[Sergeant Sanfoin, Captain Campion, Hyzenthlay, Nettle and Bigwig]

If that casting bonanza isn't enough to get you excited for this version of Watership Down, Oscar-winning Bond theme writer Sam Smith has recorded the original song 'Fire on Fire' for the series as well.

"I am so excited and honoured to be a part of this new adaptation of Watership Down," Sam said. "This story is so powerful and timeless, and it has been thrilling to work with Noam and his team and the incredible Steve Mac on this song for it. I hope everyone loves it as much as I do."

BBC

Fans should definitely expect this version of Watership Down to be just as tear-jerking as the novel and classic animated adaptation — in fact, Olivia Colman had to take crying breaks while recording her lines!

"I'm taking quite a long time because I keep crying!" Colman revealed to Digital Spy last year. "I promised my mum I'd never watch the original, because she knew I wouldn't be able to cope. Now I'm having to record it!"

BBC

[Strawberry]

Watership Down will air on BBC One in the UK over the Christmas period. Netflix will distribute the series elsewhere in the world.

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