BBC Adaptation of Zadie Smith’s NW Casts Nikki Amuka-Bird and Phoebe Fox

Nikki Amuka-Bird and Phoebe Fox have joined the cast for the upcoming BBC feature adaptation of NW. If you’re not familiar, Zadie Smith’s 2012 novel NW refers to the postcode of northwest London and follows four characters—Leah, Natalie, Felix, and Nathan—who grew up there. It’s been referred to as an experimental tragicomedy about modern London life.

Amuka-Bird and Fox will be playing Natalie and Leah, respectively. The two women are childhood friends who maintain a friendship throughout the years, but conflicts arise through the strong socioeconomic differences that appear when Natalie becomes a successful barrister with a luxury flat and Leah does not attain the same level of conventional success.

The adaptation will also star O.T. Fagbenle playing Felix, Ronke Adekoluejo as Grace, and James MacCallum as Tom. Rosalind Eleazar and Richie Campbell will also appear. Saul Dibb of The Duchess is directing and Rachel Bennette, who did Ripper Street, wrote the screenplay.

I’m definitely curious about how the novel will translate on screen, especially its experimental elements. I’ve seen a few of Amuka-Bird’s performances in Luther and Jupiter Ascending, and I thought Fox’s performance in A View From the Bridge was great, so it’ll be cool to see the two of them in these roles. Have you read NW? What do you think about the casting?

(via Deadline)

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