The filming of the brand new series, the title and release date of which are yet to be confirmed, began this August in the north of England, with Manchester being one of the named filming locations.

According to the official press release, the show’s plot will combine several of Dahl’s short stories in one “deliciously twisted tale” which will follow a young couple trying to “navigate conmen, adulterers, murderous mothers and snake charmers as they attempt to escape before their own fate is sealed”.

The show’s cast is set to feature a number of notable names including, Naomi Scott (Smile 2, Aladdin), Josh Finan (Say Nothing, Waiting for the Out), Imelda Staunton (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, The Crown), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton, The Magic Faraway Tree), Toby Jones (Mr Bates vs The Post Office, MobLand), Carmen Ejogo (The Penguin, True Detective), Dominic West (The Wire, The Crown), Christine Tremarco (Adolescence, The Responder), Michael Socha (The Cage, Showtrial) and Clarke Peters (The Boroughs, The Wire).

Directing the series are Runyararo Mapfumo, known for her work on Netflix’s Sex Education and Kaos, and Ben Gregor, whose credits include The Magic Faraway Tree and Brassic.

The series’ writer, Danny Brocklehurst (Shameless, Fool Me Once), has shared his excitement to be working on this show: “The short stories of Roald Dahl were what first made me want to become a writer. His enthralling, macabre and always unexpected tales gave life to vibrant, larger than life characters like The Landlady, Mister Boggis and the mysterious Fingersmith.”

“To be given the chance to bring these characters to life in a contemporary setting is a dream come true,” he concluded.

Netflix acquired the Roald Dahl Story Company in 2021, and the newly announced series is not its first project to be inspired by the works of the beloved British author.