His Dark Materials writer reveals whether he could return to adapt Philip Pullman’s The Book of Dust

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Jack Thorne is a writer known for adapting popular works, and he’s particularly well-known for the BBC’s three-season television series based on Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials.

Pullman didn’t stop with the original trilogy; he later wrote The Book of Dust, a new series that further develops the story and world he created.

Despite the potential for a great adaptation – and the success of the author’s previous work within the same fictional world – the writer has stated they don’t intend to adapt The Book of Dust.

In a recent interview for our series, The TopMob Writers’ Room, which explores the minds of screenwriters, Jack Thorne confirmed he won’t be returning to adapt The Book of Dust. He stated, “I think that’s for another writer now.”

He felt he’d reached his limit in that field and believed it now needed a fresh approach and someone with different strengths.

He admitted he felt intimidated by the challenge of adapting His Dark Materials. Having just finished working on Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, he questioned whether taking on another large-scale adaptation so soon was wise. However, his deep love for the His Dark Materials books ultimately drew him to the project.

I didn’t really apply for the job. I just had a chat with Julie Gardner at Bad Wolf, and she suggested I speak with Jane Tranter, the executive producer. I basically told them how much I loved the books and why, and then Jane suggested we work together on it.

It was one of those experiences that doesn’t fully register while it’s happening. Harry Potter was the same for both me and director John Tiffany – we just kind of went with it. There wasn’t time to feel overwhelmed or ask ourselves if we were up to the challenge, because we were working with people we really trusted.

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Christopher Thorne’s new adaptation of ‘Lord of the Flies’ will be a four-part series airing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer starting February 8th.

He talked about the show on his online chat, “The TopMob Writers’ Room,” and also shared details about his work on the three “This Is England” miniseries, his future Beatles projects, and other things he’s been working on.

The full interview with Jack Thorne for The TopMob Writers’ Room will be released on Friday, February 6th.

Okay, so if you’re looking for something to watch, His Dark Materials is already up on BBC iPlayer. And mark your calendars, because Lord of the Flies is hitting BBC One and iPlayer starting Sunday, February 8th, 2026. I’m definitely setting a reminder for that one!

Don’t miss His Dark Materials! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app now for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

James HibbsDrama Writer

James Hibbs writes about TV dramas for TopMob, covering shows on streaming services and traditional channels. Before becoming a writer, he worked in public relations, first at a business-to-business agency and then at the international production company Fremantle. He has a BA in English and Theatre Studies, as well as a Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.

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2026-02-05 16:34