The Luminaries (miniseries)

Did You Know?

• Starz aired The Luminaries in the United States beginning on 14 February 2021.
• At the 2020 New Zealand Television Awards, the series won Best Actor for Himesh Patel.

Background

Eleanor Catton's novel won the 2013 Man Booker Prize. TVNZ described the story as an epic drama of love, murder and revenge set during the 1860s gold rush on New Zealand's South Island. Catton wrote the script herself, which was said to be very different from the book. Trailers were released by the BBC on 12 June 2020.

Production

Producer Andrew Woodhead optioned the novel for television in 2013, before the Booker Prize shortlist. Catton was brought on as screenwriter, an unusual arrangement. After the BBC declined the series in late 2015, Catton rewrote it with Anna Wetherell as protagonist, and the BBC commissioned it in mid-2016. In 2019, BBC Two was reported to be producing a miniseries directed by McCarthy, produced by Working Title Television and Southern Light Films for BBC Two with TVNZ, Fremantle, and Silver Reel, funded by the New Zealand Film Commission. Filming took place across New Zealand, including the South Island's southeast coast, Hokitika, near Auckland, Dunedin's main street built in a studio car park, Tawharanui Peninsula, Te Henga, a farm for Hokitika and Chinatown, Crooked River (due to Arahura River flooding), and Whangaroa for the arrival scene. Catton insisted on West Coast production for its unique flora and fauna. Production designer Felicity Abbott's crew built over 105 sets from scratch over a year.

Reception

Early UK reviews were mixed: The Guardian called it glorious escapism, while The Times praised Eve Hewson's performance. The Telegraph found it a stuffy throwback with overly dark lighting, a complaint echoed by many viewers on social media. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 65% approval rating based on 31 reviews, with a consensus noting style and character but lacking depth.