Bookworms and TV watchers have been positively spoilt for choice when it comes to adaptations recently. Joining the ever-growing novel-to-TV-series pipeline is The Doll Factory. The UK wing of new streaming platform Paramount+ ordered an adaptation of the Sunday Times bestseller and it’s set to be a dark period drama about sisterhood and obsession.

As well as having the production company behind ITV’s Marcella attached to it, there’s also a host of behind-the-scenes talent making us very excited for the new six-part drama.

Here’s everything you need to know about The Doll Factory, including the official trailer.

What is the plot of The Doll Factory?

As mentioned, The Doll Factory will be based on the bestselling 2019 novel of the same name by Elizabeth Macneal. The book was enough to give us chills (and keep us looking over our shoulder when reading), so we’re excited to see if this new series will recreate the same eerie atmosphere.

According to Deadline, the series – like the book – will be set in London in 1850 and explores the story of Iris, who paints dolls for a living alongside her twin sister, Rose. She dreams of becoming an artist, and by night, secretly paints herself naked.

Silas is a taxidermist who owns a shop filled with his creations. He dreams of one day finding an item so unique he will be catapulted to fame. Louis is a painter and member of the pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, searching for his next muse, and he finds it within Iris.

Louis soon asks Iris to model for him, and she agrees on the condition that he will also teach her to paint, and suddenly her world expands beyond anything she ever dreamed of. Suddenly before her is the opportunity to escape and start a new life, but in doing so, she must abandon her sister, sacrifice her reputation and launch herself into the unknown. But as Iris’s world expands, a story of dark obsession begins to unfold.

We said it was a chilling one, didn’t we? 

Who will star in The Doll Factory?

Esmé Creed-Miles (Hanna) will play Iris; Mirren Mack (The Witcher: Blood Origin) is her twin sister, Rose; Pippa Haywood (Magpie Murders) plays Mrs Salter; Éanna Hardwicke is Silas and Wedding Season’s George Webster plays painter Louis.

The series also stars Sharlene Whyte (Stephen), newcomer Reece Kenwyne-Mpudzi, Freddy Carter (Shadow And Bone), Saoirse-Monica Jackson (Derry Girls), Laurie Kynaston (The Sandman), Jim Caesar (The Witcher), Akshay Khanna (Chloe), Aysha Kala (The Undeclared War) and Nell Hudson (Outlander).

Independent production company Buccaneer Media is attached to produce the thriller and they’ve been responsible for other hit dramas such as Marcella and Whitstable Pearl.

Sacha Polak (Hanna, Dirty God) is on board as director, Suzanne McAuley (Magpie Murders, Maigret) is producer and Julie Harkin (I May Destroy You, Becoming Elizabeth) is casting director.

When and where will The Doll Factory be available to stream?

The Doll Factory will be available to stream on Paramount+ from 27 November, with all episodes released on 1 December. In the meantime, watch the official trailer below.

Images: Paramount+; Pan Macmillan