E.M. Forster's 'Howards End' to be adapted as BBC miniseries

LONDON, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Screenwriter and playwright Kenneth Lonergan is penning a four-part adaptation of E.M. Forster's 1910 novel Howards End.

The miniseries, which is being produced by Playground in association with City Entertainment and KippSterEntertainment for BBC One, is to begin production this summer.

No casting has been announced yet.

"I'm very proud to have been entrusted with this adaptation of Howards End for the BBC," Lonergan said in a statement. "The book belongs to millions of readers past and present; I only have the nerve to take it on at all because of the bottomless wealth and availability of its ideas, the richness of its characters and the imperishable strain of humanity running through every scene. The blissfully expansive miniseries format makes it possible to mine these materials with a freedom and fidelity that would be otherwise impossible. It's a humbling and thrilling creative venture transporting the Schlegels, Wilcoxes and Basts from the page to the screen. I hope audiences will enjoy spending time with them as much as I do."

Forster's book was previously adapted as a 1992 movie starring Emma Thompson, Helena Bonham Carter and Anthony Hopkins.