Philip Pullman’s books are getting a makeover by the sounds of it (Picture: Getty Images)

Otto Bathurst has revealed that the upcoming BBC adaptation of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials will be ‘twisted and modernised to be make it more accessible’ for audiences.

Looks like someone may be about to get a telling off from the Magisterium…

Otto, who has directed the upcoming Robin Hood movie, will helm two of the eight episodes that make up the first season of the BBC drama, based on Pullman’s iconic trilogy.

The books follow the adventures of Lyra and Will Parry as they explore parallel universes inhabited by witches, armoured bears, and daemons.


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‘[His Dark Materials] has been interesting, as we are twisting that a little bit,’ he told Metro.co.uk.



When asked how the story has been twisted, he then backtracked and added: ‘We’re not twisting it, but we are modernising it a little bit, making it feel a little bit more accessible.

‘The books are quite Victoriana in their fantasy, but it’s pretty on the nose – there are a lot of fans of that book and it’s a great book so why mess with it?’

Caption: His Dark Materials

Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper will oversee the entire series and helm several episodes, and Logan’s breakout star Dafne Keen, 13, will star as Lyra.

The 45-year-old director is said to have been pushing for the chance to bring Pullman’s award-winning books to life for some time; the story was adapted into a film with hopes for a franchise in 2007 but it failed to set the box office alight.

Dakota Blue Richards starred in the 2007 adaptation (Picture: )

It is reportedly already one of the most expensive British productions ever undertaken for TV, and James McAvoy, Ruth Wilson and Lin-Manuel Miranda will all also star.

The BBC had been hoping to keep production on their adaptation a mystery, and they roped in the Magisterium to help keep an eye out, sending a warning on social media after fans saw Gyptians filming scenes in Oxford.

An ominous message was tweeted out from the show’s Twitter account urging fans not to share ‘clandestine materials’ online as ‘social media is a hotbed for heresy’.

The Magisterium feature in the trilogy which is partly based on John Milton’s epic Paradise Lost, turning that tale inside out and instead praising humanity for what was previously considered it’s greatest failing, sin; the series has attracted controversy for its criticism of religion.

In the book the Magisterium is another name for the Church (the same name as the authority of the Catholic Church) and it exerts control over society in a variety of ways.

Metro.co.uk has contacted BBC for comment.

MORE: The BBC orders second season of Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials – despite filming just starting on the first