Luther's Ruth Wilson is the latest big name to join BBC's His Dark Materials

Luther and The Affair star Ruth Wilson is the latest big name to join the BBC adaptation of His Dark Materials.

Wilson will be starring as protagonist Marisa Coulter, a former lover of Lord Asriel (James McAvoy), according to Deadline.

Coulter is one of the main characters in Philip Pullman's trilogy, and is described as a beautiful 35-year-old in the third novel, The Amber Spyglass. Her relationship with main character Lyra (Dafne Keen) – an orphan who travels to a parallel universe – is one of the main strands of the story.

News of Wilson's casting comes after McAvoy was confirmed for the part of Lord Asriel, the adventurer/father of Lyra.

Clarke Peters has also signed onto the eight-part first series, playing the master who raises Asriel's curious child. You may recognise Peters from his appearances in The Wire and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Hamilton's Lin-Manuel Miranda has been cast as balloonist and adventurer Lee Scoresby.

Pullman has previously spoken about his experience working on the series with writer Jack Thorne, saying: "I've greatly enjoyed talking to him and learning about his plans for bringing His Dark Materials to the screen.

"I'm certain he'll do a superb job, and I look forward to seeing the whole project develop as he shapes the story."

Source: Digital Spy