'Riveting' period drama on BBC is 'action-filled' delight

There have been several iterations of French author Jules Verne’s tremendously popular 1872 novel Around the World in Eighty Days.

With multiple makers taking a stab at the source material, some renditions have worked, while others have not. Thankfully, the most recent reimagining — PBS and BBC’s 2021 co-production — has been a crackling success.

Touted as a historical period drama, Around the World in 80 Days (2021) was commissioned by the European Alliance, a co-production alliance between ZDF of Germany, RAI of Italy, and France Télévisions, with Be-Films/RTBF (Belgium) and Masterpiece (US) serving as additional co-production partners. The series was produced in South Africa, France, and the UK, with filming also taking place in Romania.

Having first premiered on La Une in Belgium in 2021, Around the World in 80 Days then had its BBC One premiere in the UK on December 26, 2021. Ahead of its series premiere, it was announced that the show had been renewed for a second season pre-release, however in October 2024, it was reported that no plans to further the series beyond its first season were currently in the pipeline.

Starring David Tennant as Phileas Fogg, Ibrahim Koma as Jean Passepartout, and Leonie Benesch as Abigail Fix Fortescue, the series follows the trio as they travel around the world in 80 days via modern and traditional means, after Phileas loses a wager against a snobbish member of the Reform Club. Although a fictional story — real people like Bass Reeves, Adolphe Thiers, and Jane Digby have been portrayed in the show as they interact with the fictional characters.

With an 81 per cent critics approval rating on review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes, sentiment towards this adaptation of Around the World in 80 Days was generally positive, with one reviewer writing: “There's a reason that Jules Verne's novel has been made and re-made over the decades -- it's a riveting adventure tale, and this version is no exception.”

Another critic said of the show: “This new adaptation of Around The World In 80 Days more or less tells new stories that may have more parallels into the 21st century than the 19th. But it's also an action-filled, fast-moving delight.”

And though some critics weren’t too impressed: “It's ultimately a middling, entirely unnecessary new take on Verne's classic adventure novel, and its main cast seems aware they're starring in what amounts to an afterschool special.”

Others thought the adaptation was a solid effort: “There is something about this time of year that demands a good, solid adaptation of a literary classic. Right on cue, here is Around the World in 80 Days for the entire family to enjoy.”

Audience reviews were similar, with one avid fan writing: “Nice cast, good work, I read the book and watched all the previous versions (also the anime). I like how it was changed.”

Another viewer praised the 2021 adaption and said: “It's about time Jules Verne's famous story got the screen adaptation it deserves. Around the World in 80 Days is a fresh take on the timeless classic with a few tweaks to suit a modern audience. The cast is phenomenal. The writing, directing, cinematography, and production design are all brilliant and bring back memories of a time when TV productions weren't the cr*p streaming services spit out nowadays.”

While one viewer shared a more level take: “A solid enough adaption of the Verne classic, that does play it rather safe at times. It tries to tackle some important social issues along the way, but it does come across at times as rather forced and half baked.”

Around the World in 80 Days is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.