Tom Burke to star as Cormoran Strike in new J.K. Rowling series

War & Peace star Tom Burke is set to bring J.K. Rowling’s private detective Cormoran Strike to life in a new BBC crime drama series.
The Harry Potter author penned the stories about war veteran Strike under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, starting with The Cuckoo’s Calling in 2013.
She has since followed that book up with two more stories – 2014’s The Silkworm, and Career of Evil in 2015 – and she has plans for a fourth installment to be released next year (17).
The novels have been picked up for adaptation by BBC bosses, and now Burke has been tapped to take on the lead role.
Each of the books will be produced as separate event dramas, with The Cuckoo’s Calling consisting of three hour-long episodes, while the two sequels will each be two-parters, reports Variety.com.
“I’m overjoyed to be immersing myself in the role of Cormoran Strike, who is as complex as he is larger than life,” a statement issued by Burke, who is also known for his role in BBC period drama The Musketeers, reads.
“I know I’m joining an extraordinary team of people on a series that for me is peppered with moments of real emotional depth and meticulously grounded in the page-turning momentum of these novels. Cormoran’s world is rich and raw.”
Rowling, who will produce the project via her Bronte Film & TV company, adds: “I’m thrilled about the casting of Tom Burke, a massively talented actor who’ll bring the character to perfect life. Cormoran Strike is pure joy to write, and I can’t wait to see Tom play him.”
It’s the latest Rowling novel to head to the BBC – her first adult fiction book, 2012’s The Casual Vacancy, was turned into a mini-series in 2015.