Amazon MGM Studios has unveiled the first look at a new adaptation of Charles Dickens' 1859 novel "A Tale of Two Cities", headlined by Kit Harington ("Game of Thrones", "Industry") as Sydney Carton.
A four-part limited series, the show will premiere on Sunday, September 6, 2026, on MGM+ in the United States and will also broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It is expected to stream on Prime Video in other territories.
Set in 1782 London and Paris during the war between Britain and France, the story follows Lucie Manette as she discovers her father is alive. When messenger Charles Darnay is arrested for treason, she enlists the brilliant but erratic lawyer Sydney Carton to free him, sparking a tragic love triangle amid the French Revolution. Kit Harington stars alongside François Civil as the almost identical Charles Darnay, and Mirren Mack as Lucie Manette.
The series is created and written by Daniel West and directed by Hong Khaou and Richard Clark. Kit Harington also serves as an executive producer. Amazon MGM Studios has released a teaser trailer, offering a first glimpse of the show's dark, emotionally charged aesthetic.
The 2026 adaptation reportedly stands apart by framing the classic as a modern psychological thriller rather than a traditional, romanticised period drama. Over the last century, Charles Dickens’ 1859 novel has been adapted numerous times for film, television, radio, and even Broadway.
Major previous adaptations include a 1935 MGM movie starring Ronald Colman, a 1958 British film starring Dirk Bogarde, a1980 made-for-TV adaptation starring Chris Sarandon, which was highly faithful to Dickens’ text, and a 1989 BBC mini-series.
