Kit Harington Returns to Period Drama in MGM+’s ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ — Here’s What to Know

Kit Harington is back in period drama territory, but there are no dragons in sight this time.

The Game of Thrones star leads MGM+’s new adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities, which premiered Sunday, September 6. The four-part limited series takes one of Dickens’ most famous novels and puts its complicated love triangle front and center, with Harington starring alongside François Civil and Mirren Mack.

If the title immediately brings back memories of a book you were assigned to read in school, don’t run just yet. This version is being positioned as a sweeping and more contemporary take on the classic story, combining romance, political unrest, murder and sacrifice as its characters become caught between London and Paris.

What Is MGM+’s ‘A Tale of Two Cities’ About?

The story begins in London in 1782 as tensions between Britain and France continue to rise. Lucie Manette (Mack) receives unexpected news from Paris that changes everything she thought she knew about her family: Her father, whom she believed had been dead for nearly 20 years, may actually be alive.

The man carrying that message is French émigré Charles Darnay (Civil), but Lucie’s potential path to finding her father quickly becomes more complicated when Charles is arrested and charged with treason. Hoping to free him so he can help her reach Paris, Lucie turns to Sydney Carton (Harington), a brilliant but troubled young lawyer.

What begins as an attempt to rescue Charles soon develops into something much more personal. Both Charles and Sydney develop feelings for Lucie, creating the love triangle at the heart of this adaptation while the growing political conflict surrounding them threatens to change all of their lives.

Kit Harington Takes on Sydney Carton

For Harington, Sydney Carton offers another opportunity to play a character carrying more than a little emotional baggage. Sydney is intelligent and capable but also erratic, self-destructive and struggling with addiction.

Harington told People that he was drawn to Sydney as another “tortured soul,” while describing the new adaptation as a story that feels particularly relevant to the world today. The actor also serves as an executive producer on the limited series.

Although Dickens’ novel was first published in 1859, Harington believes its combination of political upheaval and deeply personal relationships can still connect with modern viewers. This adaptation leans into that idea by emphasizing the complicated relationship between Sydney, Charles and Lucie as the world surrounding them becomes increasingly unstable.

Who Else Stars in ‘A Tale of Two Cities’?

François Civil stars opposite Harington as Charles Darnay, the idealistic French émigré whose arrest brings the three central characters together. Mirren Mack plays Lucie Manette, whose search for her father becomes intertwined with both men and the increasingly dangerous political situation unfolding around them.

The cast also includes Ian Pirie as John Barsard and Roxane Duran as Thérèse. Daniel West created and wrote the adaptation, with Richard Clark directing. Harington, West, Polly Williams, Sarah Best, Léo Becker and Hong Khaou are among the executive producers. The project is a co-production between Federation Stories, Federation Studio France and Thriker Films for MGM+ and the BBC.

How Many Episodes Are There?

Unlike another sprawling television adaptation that asks viewers for a multi-season commitment, A Tale of Two Cities is keeping things short. The limited series consists of just four episodes, with new episodes airing Sundays on MGM+.

That makes this a relatively quick watch for anyone curious about the latest interpretation of Dickens’ story, particularly viewers coming for Harington after Game of Thrones and Industry.

There have been plenty of adaptations of A Tale of Two Cities over the years, but it has been decades since the story received a major television treatment. This version is betting that the combination of Harington, Civil and Mack — along with a greater emphasis on the central romance — can introduce Dickens’ story to viewers who may have never picked up the novel.

A Tale of Two Cities airs Sundays on MGM+.