BritBox Will Bring 'A Woman of Substance' Remake to the U.S.

A Woman of Substance may well be the biggest period drama that most Americans haven't seen. The original 1980s limited series, which essentially put U.K. network Channel 4 on the map, remains the network's most popular series of the past forty years. Unfortunately, despite arriving during the heyday of limited-series British costume dramas, the show never aired properly in the U.S., only shown on New York City's PBS station, Channel 13.

BritBox is definitely not about to let that happen again when it comes to the buzzy reboot slated to hit our screens later this year. Based on the megapopular novel of the same name by Barbara Taylor Bradford, A Woman of Substance follows the rags-to-riches rise of a young housemaid whose drive propels her to the upper echelons of Wall Street success, ultimately trading her life of poverty for one of almost unimaginable wealth and influence.

Brenda Blethyn (Vera) stars as Emma Harte, a role that's something of a swerve for the award-winning actress who spent fourteen years playing the dishelved eponymous investigator Vera Stanhope. (If the images are anything to go by, it's certainly a wardrobe upgrade.) She'll be joined by Jessica Reynolds (House of Guinness), who will play a younger version of the same character.

Here's the series' synopsis.

1911. Emma Harte, an impoverished, ambitious maid in Yorkshire, England, goes on a dizzying journey to become the world’s richest woman, gazing down from a sprawling luxury New York penthouse. A rags-to-riches tale of women through the 20th century, Emma defies the expectations of her society, fearlessly challenging the roles she’s given, smashing glass ceilings, and never, ever deviating from her masterplan: Get to the top. Whatever it takes.

"BritBox is the perfect North American home for this bold new adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford's classic story, which follows Emma Harte's extraordinary rags-to-riches journey," Matt Creasey, EVP Sales, Acquisitions and Coproductions, said. "We're in no doubt this premium drama will captivate global audiences."

Alongside Blethyn and Reynolds, the series also stars Jo Joyner (Shakespeare and Hathaway: Private Investigators) as Elizabeth Harte Ainsley, Emmett J. Scanlan (How to Get to Heaven From Belfast) as Adam Fairley, and Lydia Leonard (Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light) as Olivia Wainwright.

Other cast members include Will Mellor (Mr Bates vs The Post Office) as Jack Harte, Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable?) as Frank Harte, and several actors portraying the Fairley family, such as Leanne Best (This City is Ours), Ewan Horrocks (Domina), Harry Cadby (In Flight), and Toby Regbo (Belgravia: The Next Chapter).

The eight-part series is written by Katherine Jakeways (The Buccaneers) and co-written by Roanne Bardsley. Director John Hardwick helms block one of the show, with Samantha Harries and Richard Senior stepping in to direct blocks two and three, respectively. Executive producers are Jakeways, Beth Willis, Joe Innes, George Faber, and The Barbara Taylor Bradford Trust.

A Woman of Substance doesn't have a confirmed airdate just yet, but BritBox says it will premiere at a still-to-be-determined time this summer.