The adventures of one Tristran Thorn and the fallen star Yvaine have been told in book, graphic novel, and film formats so far, but the adaptations aren’t over yet—you can now add audio play to the list, too. Yes, BBC Radio 4 is releasing a radio play of Neil Gaiman’s Stardust in December and oh my stars, I couldn’t be more excited.
Radio Times brought the happy news to our attention. And the development is not surprising, given that Radio 4 has already adapted Gaiman’s Neverwhere and Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens. They worked with director Dirk Maggs on both of those plays, and he’s back for this two-part story that follows a young and somewhat naive Tristran as he embarks on a quest to prove his love to Victoria Forester and encounters witches, sky pirates, and all manner of fantastical sights. Along the way, he runs into Yvaine and they sort of grow up together as they try to survive bizarre and dangerous foes. It’s a whimsical story that is an absolute joy to read or watch from beginning to end. And hey, in the 2007 film, Tristran was played by Charlie Cox, a.k.a. Matt Murdock, a.k.a. Daredevil.
Exciting times! @NeilHimself's Stardust is coming to Radio 4. See cast details plus you can win some Gaiman-abilia: https://t.co/zhmHBKkI48 pic.twitter.com/0xA4K3gIZ4
— BBC Radio 4 (@BBCRadio4) September 26, 2016
Matthew Beard will portray Tristran in the audio play, with Sophie Rundle is set to shine as Yvaine. Other cast members include Eleanor Bron, Charlotte Riley, Frances Barber, Maggie Steed, Blake Ritson, Nicholas Boulton, Alex Macqueen, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Kevin Eldon, Paul Kaye, and Aisling Loftus.
And Stardust isn’t the only Gaiman story headed to Radio 4 this year. They’re also releasing a take on his short story How the Marquis Got His Coat Back; that one will drop in November. The Marquis is a character from Neverwhere, and he’ll be portrayed by Paterson Joseph. In a nice bit of the things coming full circle, the actor played the Marquis in the 1996 BBC television adaptation of the book.
Keep your ears on Radio 4 to listen to these new plays. Also, head to the comments and tell me about your favorite scene in Stardust.
Images: Paramount Pictures, Imgur
