MGM+’s first trailer for its adaptation of “A Tale of Two Cities” begins with the famous opening lines of the 1859 novel by Charles Dickens: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” 

The streaming platform released the trailer for the drama series Wednesday, with Kit Harington starring as Sydney Carton, a London lawyer tasked with helping Lucie Manette (Mirren Mack) with tracking down her father, presumed dead for nearly two decades. She learns of her father’s fate from a French messenger, Charles Darnay (François Civil), who is then arrested and charged with treason. 

“Lucie’s collision with Darnay and Carton unleashes a powerful and complex love triangle,” a synopsis of the series reads. “Both men fight to be worthy of her love and Lucie is torn over which one to choose.” 

The four-part drama, written by Daniel West and directed by Richard Clark, is set to begin streaming Sept. 6 on MGM+. It also stars Ian Pirie and Roxane Duran.

About the writer

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development.