After months of anticipation [1], we're counting down the days until the HBO adaptation of Philip Pullman's classic fantasy novels [2] His Dark Materials. The trilogy, which tells the story of a young girl swept up in a magical conflict, has been adapted before, but its most notable adaptation — a 2007 film starring Nicole Kidman [3] and Daniel Craig [4] — flopped miserably. This time, it looks like the iconic books will finally get their proper due, with stunning production values and a top-notch cast [5]. The cast includes some major A-list names and popular character actors, as well as relative newcomers for the young characters at the centre of it all. You can check out the major cast members in the gallery ahead!

Dafne Keen as Lyra Belacqua

The 14-year-old Spanish-born actress plays Lyra, the tweenage heroine of the whole series. This isn't Keen's first foray into a huge fantasy universe: she got her big break playing Laura, aka "X-23", in Logan.

James McAvoy as Lord Asriel

Fresh off of finishing his multiyear run as a young Professor X in the X-Men series, McAvoy joins His Dark Materials as the morally ambiguous aristocrat Lord Asriel. McAvoy's list of credits is considerable, including major roles in Atonement, The Chronicles of Narnia, Split, and, coming up next, IT: Chapter Two.

Ruth Wilson as Marisa Coulter

The award-winning actress plays the elegant and ruthless Mrs. Coulter, and she's used to playing morally complex characters. Her best-known recent role is probably in the TV series The Affair, and she's also had credits spanning from Jane Eyre to Saving Mr. Banks and Luther.

Lin-Manuel Miranda as Lee Scoresby

Unless you've been out of touch with pop culture for a couple of years, you definitely know the Hamilton star and creator. He's also had acted in Mary Poppins Returns and wrote music for Disney's Moana. Next up, he's joined the cast of the film adaptation of his first musical, In the Heights, in the small role of "Piragua Guy."

Clarke Peters as The Master/Dr. Carne

Peters is returning to HBO with his mysterious role on His Dark Materials. Previously, he starred in The Wire and Treme.

Ruta Gedmintas as Serafina Pekkala

Gedmintas plays Serafina, a witch queen who becomes an ally in Lyra's journey. The actress has been working for years, but mostly in lesser-known projects. Her most high-profile role to date was as Kirsten Velders in The Strain.

James Cosmo as Farder Coram

Game of Thrones fans definitely recognise Cosmo, who played Jeor Mormont for multiple seasons. Cosmo has had a long and hard-working career spanning back to the 1960s, including major projects such as Highlander, Braveheart, and Troy, among many others.

Ariyon Bakare as Lord Boreal

Bakare is on a roll in 2019. After playing the demon Ligur in Amazon's hit Good Omens, he's set to pop up as the sly Lord Boreal in His Dark Materials.