The cast has been revealed for BBC One’s epic new adaptation of War And Peace.

Adapted from Leo Tolstoy’s literary masterpiece by Mr Selfridge writer Andrew Davies, the six one-hour episodes will star James Norton (Grantchester), Paul Dano (12 Years A Slave) and Lily James (Downton Abbey).

Directed by Tom Harper (Peaky Blinders), War and Peace begins filming next month in Russia, Lithuania and Latvia.

Paul Dano will play Pierre Bezukhov, with Lily James as Natasha Rostova and James Norton as Prince Andrei Bolkonsky.

The cast also includes Stephen Rea (An Honourable Woman) as Prince Vassily Kuragin, Ade Edmondson (Blood) and Greta Scacchi (Brideshead Revisited) as Count and Countess Rostov, Jack Lowden (The Passing Bells) as Nikolai Rostov, Tom Burke (The Musketeers) as Dolokhov and Aisling Loftus (Mr Selfridge) as Sonya.

James Norton said: “I’m thrilled to be entrusted with Andrei in this exciting adaptation. It’s a privilege to bring to life one of Tolstoy’s wonderfully rich and conflicted characters. And to get to work alongside talents such as Tom Harper, Andrew Davies, Lily James and Paul Dano is very exciting – I can’t wait to get started.”

Lily James added: “I am very excited and privileged to be playing Natasha, in this co-production between BBC and The Weinstein Company, of Tolstoy’s classic War and Peace. It is amazing to be part of such a prestigious cast and to appear in such a beautiful and rich adaptation by Andrew Davies.”

Andrew Davies commented: “When I came to War and Peace for the first time, rather late in life, I was struck by how fresh and modern the characters and relationships felt. It’s a story of the hopes and dreams of youth, set against the titanic background of the Napoleonic wars.”

The writer continued: “Three characters at the centre: Pierre, the bumbling, chaotic idealist; Prince Andrei, whose cool Darcy-like exterior conceals huge emotional conflict; and Natasha Rostova, possibly the most appealing heroine in literature. These three are surrounded by a gallery of unforgettable characters – we get love, friendship, huge swings of fortune, betrayals, tragedy, and a surprising amount of comedy too. ”

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