Black Narcissus boasts a hugely impressive cast

Rumer Godden’s 1939 novel Black Narcissus has already been adapted for the screen in a classic 1947 film from Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger.

The movie was praised for its atmosphere and incredible performances, as well as the cinematography, which managed the impressive feat of recreating the Himalayas in Pinewood Studios.

So, the idea of turning it into a three-part drama might seem a little daunting, especially when many people are going to be comparing it to the original, but it seems the makers are confident they can put their own stamp on the material. For newcomers, it’s the tale of a group of nuns, led by the ambitious Sister Clodagh, who arrive in Nepal in the 1930s to set up a mission, only to find that the isolation and atmosphere take their toll.

This new version boasts a hugely impressive cast, including Gemma Arterton, Rosie Cavaliero, Diana Rigg and Jim Broadbent alongside newcomer Dipika Kunwar. It’s also more diverse than the original, which cast Jean Simmons as the Nepalese teenager Kanchi.

As Gemma, who plays Sister Clodagh explains, it also took the cast to the actual location. She told WWD: “We got to be there and see what all the fuss was about; the beauty of [the Himalayas] and how desolate and isolated you are when you’re there.”

However, the drama does still include some nods to the 1947 movie. She says: “Our producer [Andrew Macdonald] is the grandson of one of the producers of the original film. There was great admiration and love that we wanted to show, in terms of the design and certain shots.”

As well as giving her a meaty role and the chance to see the Himalayas, Black Narcissus also gave Arterton, whose previous credits include Quantum of Solace, Tamara Drewe and the lead role in a TV adaptation of Tess of the d’Urbervilles, a chance to work with Diana Rigg, who died in September.

Speaking at a press conference, Arterton said: “I knew Diana before because I’m friends with her daughter, Rachael Stirling. My husband was doing a play with Rachael Stirling and I was waiting to hear whether I was going to do Black Narcissus. I went to see the play with Diana and she asked me what I was doing next, and I cheekily went Black Narcissus even though I hadn’t gotten the part yet. And she said, ‘Oh, it’s a wonderful film, darling. That’s a wonderful film.’ And I didn’t know that she was going to be in it.”

Gemma added: “And then we were on set and we are in our habits, and she was so wonderful.”

However, the characters are having a less lovely time as they travel from Darjeeling on a mission to the Palace of Mopu in the Himalayas. The Palace was once known as the House of Women, and hides many dark secrets. Over the next three nights, viewers will see how the strain of living there takes its toll on the newcomers, particularly the volatile Sister Ruth (Aisling Franciosi).

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