Eddie Redmayne to Star in BBC's WAR AND PEACE Adaptation?

Yesterday, it was announced that the BBC has started developing a televised adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's classic tome, WAR AND PEACE. As of today, the upcoming six-part series may have found its star in LES MISERABLES' Eddie Redmayne, Entertainment Wise has reported.

'House of Cards' Emmy-winning writer Andrew Davies will adapt Tolstoy's novel into six one-hour episodes set to air in 2015, with Redmanye reportedly leading the sprawling epic. Faith Penhale, head of drama at BBC, will executive produce the historic drama.

Davies describes the novel as, "a thrilling, funny and heartbreaking story of love, war and family life. The characters are so natural and human and easy to identify with, and Natasha Rostova just beats Lizzy Bennet as the most lovable heroine in literature."

Ben Stephenson, the BBC's head of drama commented in a recent speech, "I want to make BBC drama a cultural institution - a touchstone for quality and modernity with all the excitement and glamour of a curtain going up."

Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published his novel in 1869. The work is Epic in scale and is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature. It is considered Tolstoy's finest literary achievement, along with his other major prose work Anna Karenina (1873-1877).

Eddie Redmayne won the 2010 Tony Award as best featured actor in a play for his performance in Red. He originated his role in Red in 2009 at the Donmar Warehouse and won the Olivier Award for the performance that season. Redmayne made his professional stage debut for Shakespeare's Globe Theatre in Twelfth Night at The Middle Temple Hall in 2002. He won the award for Outstanding Newcomer at the 50th Evening Standard Theatre Awards (2004) for his performance in Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?, and the award for Best Newcomer at the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards in 2005. Additional stage credits include Now or Later by Christopher Shinn at The Royal Court Theatre.

His television credits include the BBC miniseries Tess Of The D'Urbervilles and the miniseries The Pillars of the Earth. Film credits include The Good Shepherd, Powder Blue, Savage Grace, The Other Boleyn Girl and Glorious 39. He also starred as Osmund in Christopher Smith's Supernatural gothic Chiller film Black Death, the 2008 Sundance hit The Yellow Handkerchief, and the upcoming My Week with Marilyn.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride