'The Watch': Release date, plot, cast, trailer and all you need to know about BBC adaptation of Terry Pratchett's 'Discworld'
Fans of Sir Terry Pratchett’s works have a reason to be excited! BBC America is soon to release its adaptation of Pratchett’s ‘Discworld’ series of fantasy novels. The eight-part season will follow the Ankh-Morpork City Watch from the novels, which in the books evolve from a hopeless gang of three to a fully equipped and efficient police force. Here’s all you need to know about ‘The Watch’:
Release date
‘The Watch’ is set to premiere on January 3, 2021, only on BBC America.
Plot
As per BBC America, ‘The Watch’ follows an unlikely group of misfits, The City Watch, who are forced to find the guts to save the world, surprising even themselves in the process. “The comedic yet thrilling series pits trolls, werewolves, wizards and other improbable heroes against an evil plot to resurrect a great dragon which would lead to the destruction of life as they know it,” notes the official synopsis. “The modern and inclusive series is inspired by the characters created by Sir Terry Pratchett’s famous ‘Discworld’ novels, including the captain of The City Watch Sam Vimes, the last scion of nobility Lady Sybil Ramkin, the naïve but heroic Carrot, the mysterious Angua, and the ingenious forensics expert Cheery, together with The Watch’s own idiosyncratic depiction of Death.”
Cast
Matt Berry as the voice of Wayne, a sword
The 46-year-old British actor, writer, and musician is best known for playing the lead role of Steven Toast in the Channel 4 sitcom 'Toast of London'. His other noted performances include shows like ‘What We Do in the Shadows’, 'The IT Crowd’, ‘Garth Marenghi's Darkplace’, ‘The Mighty Boosh’, ‘Snuff Box’, ‘The Wrong Door’, and ‘House of Fools’.
Anna Chancellor as Lord Vetinari
The 55-year-old British actor is best known for her roles as Caroline Bingley in the 1995 BBC adaptation of ‘Pride and Prejudice’, and Questular Rontok in ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy’. Chancellor has also received acclaim for other TV roles that include series like ‘Spooks’, ‘The Vice’, ‘Karaoke’, ‘Cold Lazarus’, ‘Tipping the Velvet’, ‘Jupiter Moon’, and more.
Richard Dormer as Sam Vimes
The 51-year-old actor, playwright, and screenwriter from Northern Ireland is best known for his role as Beric Dondarrion in the HBO television series ‘Game of Thrones’, and Dan Anderssen in Sky Atlantic's ‘Fortitude’.
The show’s cast also includes Sam Adewunmi as Carcer Dun, Marama Corlett as Corporal Angua, James Fleet as the Archchancellor of Unseen University, Adam Hugill as Constable Carrot, Ralph Ineson as Detritus, Hakeem Kae-Kazim as Captain John Keel, Jo Eaton-Kent as Constable Cheery, Ruth Madeley as Throat, Bianca Simone Mannie as Wonse, Ingrid Oliver as Doctor Cruces, Wendell Pierce as the voice of Death, Lara Rossi as Lady Sybil Ramkin, and Paul Kaye as Inigo Skimmer, among others.
Creators
‘The Watch’ is a BBC America original series executive produced by Hilary Salmon, Ben Donald, and Richard Stokes for BBC Studios, Rob Wilkins for Narrativia, Simon Allen, and Craig Viveiros. Johann Knobe is the series producer of ‘The Watch’, and Simon Rogers is the production designer. BBC Studios is handling distribution internationally.
Trailer
The official trailer for ‘The Watch’ that dropped earlier this month makes it plenty clear that this fantasy police procedural show is going to have all of the humor and heart that Pratchett’s work embodies. The trailer sees the ragtag group of misfits struggle to work (individually and collectively) as law enforcement, in a show that promises to be funny, light, and above all, enjoyable. Watch the trailer here:
If you like ‘The Watch’, you will also like
‘Good Omens’, ‘American Gods’, ‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’, ‘Constantine’, and ‘His Dark Materials’.