It’s already been confirmed that the upcoming series adaptation of Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days, which stars David Tennant, will be returning for a second season! With the news also came the announcement that the project’s producers would be teaming up on another adaptation of a Verne classic, this time Journey to the Centre of the Earth. 

In the upcoming eight-part series, Tennant stars as the intrepid adventurer Phileas Fogg, alongside Ibrahim Koma as his French valet, Passepartout, and Leonie Benesch as young journalist Abigail ‘Fix’ Fortescue, as the trio attempt to circumnavigate the globe in just 80 days. Abigail is an original character written for the show (more than likely replacing Detective Fix from Verne’s original work), which suggests the BBC period drama will be taking some artistic liberties with its adaptation.

It might well be that Abigail is inspired in part by Nellie Bly, a journalist who in 1888 (fifteen years after Verne’s novel was published) suggested to her editor at the New York World that she attempt to turn the fictional trip around the world into fact, for the very first time. Bly succeeded in making the trip in just over 72 days, setting a world record.

Now, whether the story will be split over two seasons or whether its second season will invent a whole new story with the same characters, we do not know. Journey to the Centre of the Earth, meanwhile, is classic Jules Verne science fiction: the story follows eccentric scientist Professor Otto Lidenbrock, who believes there are volcanic tunnels that reach to the earth’s core. Along the way he, his nephew, and their guide face many strange scenes, including a prehistoric realm where Mesozoic and Cenozoic-era creatures still roamed. No word yet on who might be involved in this adaptation, but fingers crossed it makes it to production!

The first season of Around the World in 80 Days is due to premiere on January 2nd on BBC One. You can watch the preview below: