Tom Hiddleston has been tapped as the male lead opposite Claire Danes in the Apple TV+ drama series The Essex Serpent, adapted from Sarah Perry’s bestselling novel of the same name.

Written by Anna Symon and will be directed by Clio Barnard, The Essex Serpent follows newly widowed Cora (Danes) who, having being released from an abusive marriage, relocates from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex, intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area.

Hiddleston will star as Will Ransome, the trusted leader of a small rural community. See above a first-look image of Hiddleston on the show, which started production yesterday, March 15.

Tom Hiddleston Joins Claire Danes In ‘The Essex Serpent’ Apple Series – First Look PhotoDeadline

Coming off her Emmy-winning starring turn on Homeland, Claire Danes has signed on to headline The Essex Serpent for Apple TV+.

She is replacing Keira Knightley who was originally cast last summer in in the period drama, an adaptation of Sarah Perry’s novel. Knightley, who has two young children, pulled out of the project in October in what was described in the British press as concerns over childcare during the pandemic.

Danes starred as Carrie Mathison in Showtime’s Homeland, a role which earned her two Emmy Awards three Golden Globes and a SAG Award among a slew of accolades. Danes, who burst into the acting scene with My So-Called Life, for which she won a Golden Globe, also won an Emmy, a Golden Globe and a SAG Award for the HBO film Temple Grandin. Her The Essex Serpent casting was first reported by Variety.

Claire Danes To Star In ‘The Essex Serpent’ Series Adaptation For Apple TV+Deadline

TV+’s adaptation of Sarah Perry novel The Essex Serpent has halted pre-production after Keira Knightley dramatically dropped out just weeks after Deadline revealed that she was to headline the series.

The Atonement actress’ rep told the Daily Mail that she was not participating for family reasons related to the coronavirus pandemic. Because of the second wave of COVID cases in the UK, the rep said “there wasn’t a comfortable scenario for Keira that could be put in place for an extended period of childcare required for the four-and-a-half-month production.”

The See-Saw series was due to go into production at the end of November, but will now need to recast the lead role of Cora. Deadline understands that the show will go on hiatus before shooting in 2021.

Apple’s ‘The Essex Serpent’ Goes On Hiatus After Keira Knightley Backs Out Amid UK Coronavirus OutbreakDeadline

Colette and The Imitation Game star Keira Knightley has found her next period drama – an adaptation of Sarah Perry’s novel The Essex Serpent for Apple TV+.

The streamer has ordered the project to series from See-Saw Films, the company behind The King’s Speech and Top of the Lake. It will be directed by Dark River and The Selfish Giant director Clio Barnard and is written by Mrs Wilson writer Anna Symon.

The Essex Serpent follows newly widowed Cora, played by Knightley, who, having being released from an abusive marriage, relocates from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex, intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area.

Keira Knightley To Star In & Exec Produce Adaptation Of Period Drama ‘The Essex Serpent’ For Apple TV+Deadline