New Remake of 'Brideshead Revisited' Is Coming in 2022

Brideshead Revisited is finally revisiting our televisions come 2022.  Though many details are still unconfirmed, multiple sources report the new adaptation, produced by the BBC, is planned as a high-profile prestige miniseries. And if the casting rumors are true, it's one that's bringing a cast list to match.

Of all the old PBS shows, Brideshead Revisited is one of the most famous to come out of the classic period drama era. The series, produced by ITV, was not part of Masterpiece Theatre, and instead aired under the Great Performances banner. Based on the book by Evelyn Waugh, the 1981 miniseries made Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews stars. It also turned the idea that one could make a profoundly faithful TV series pulled mostly from a book's own dialogue a reality. It helped spearhead a time of prestige TV in the UK before there was such a phrase to describe it.

One might wonder why this historical title hasn't been up for remounting in this era of reboots and reimaginings. That's because there was already an attempt to remake it, courtesy of Andrew Davies, he of the many successful Jane Austen adaptations. His 2008 film had a stellar cast, including Matthew Goode (Downton Abbey), Ben Whishaw (The Hollow Crown), Hayley Atwell (Howards End), Emma Thompson (Sense & Sensibility), and Michael Gambon (Harry Potter), but unfortunately, critics were unimpressed.

Like many sprawling novels that cover decades, condensing everything down to a two-hour film didn't really work for Brideshead.