Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell--UK release date and THREE MINUTES from the first episode

Ok, so those of you in the UK will get to see Johnathan Strange and Mr. Norrell on May 17th. We in the US apparently still have to wait until "this summer." In the meantime, we can all console ourselves with three minutes from the first show. I also want to know why the US is watching it later than the UK when it is described as co-produced by BBC America and BBC One--as in, they made it together.



The official description from the BBC America page to prove I'm not making that made-it-together thing up:


BBC AMERICA’s new original drama series, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, is based on The New York Times bestselling novel by Susanna Clarke. The series is adapted by Peter Harness (Wallander, Is Anybody There?) and directed by Toby Haynes (The Musketeers, Doctor Who).

The seven-part series stars Eddie Marsan (Best of Men, Ray Donovan, Filth) and Olivier award-winning Bertie Carvel (Restless, Hidden, Matilda) who take on the magical roles of Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell. Further casting includes Alice Englert (Ginger & Rosa, Beautiful Creatures), Marc Warren (Hustle, Mad Dogs, The Musketeers), Samuel West (Mr Selfridge, Fleming), and Charlotte Riley (Wuthering Heights, Easy Virtue).

Set at the beginning of the 19th-century, England no longer believes in practical magic. The reclusive Mr Norrell (Marsan) of Hurtfew Abbey stuns the city of York when he causes the statues of York Cathedral to speak and move. With a little persuasion and help from his man of business Childermass (Enzo Cilenti), he goes to London to help the government in the war against Napoleon. It is there Norrell summons a fairy (Warren) to bring Lady Pole (Englert) back from the dead, opening a whole can of worms…

The series is produced by Cuba Pictures for BBC One and co-produced with BBC AMERICA, in association with Feel Films, Far Moor, Screen Yorkshire and Bell Media’s SPACE. It is distributed by Endemol Worldwide Distribution.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell will premiere on BBC AMERICA in 2015.