Landing on your screens in January next year, Netflix's new original film, The Dig, is in fact based on the novel by John Preston [1].

Set just as WWII is approaching, the story follows a wealthy widow (played by Oscar nominee Carey Mulligan [2]) as she hires an amateur archaeologist (played by Ralph Fiennes [3], famously known as Voldemort from Harry Potter [4]) to excavate the ancient burial grounds that remain on her estate. The film also stars Lily James, who you may remember from that epic Mamma Mia sequel [5] (we wanted to be her too, don't worry) or her latest release, Rebecca [6].

Based on a true story, the film is set in Suffolk, England, and appears to be a tale of struggle, with an overwhelming sense of overcoming the odds amidst some seriously trying times. On the novel itself, Preston dictates [7] "As the war looms ever closer, engraved gold peeks through the soil, and each character searches for answers in the buried treasure. Their threads of love, loss, and aspiration weave a common awareness of the past as something that can never truly be left behind." One for fans of The Secret Garden, Goodnight Mister Tom, and Jane Eyre, The Dig is the period film we've all been waiting for.

The Dig will be in select UK cinemas from 15 Jan. and available to stream globally on Netflix from 29 Jan.